The meeting was presided over by retired IAS officer M. Lakshminarayana.
Bengaluru: Dalit organisations under the banner of the SC/ST Reservation Protection Forum, Karnataka, on Sunday issued a stern warning to the state government, stating that they would burn copies of the Budget if funds earmarked under SCSP and TSP are diverted in the upcoming financial statement.
The warning was issued during a pre-budget roundtable meeting held at the Legislators’ Home in Bengaluru. The meeting was organised under the leadership of the SC/ST Reservation Protection Forum and witnessed participation from over 70 organisations and more than 150 activists.
Speakers at the meeting expressed strong dissatisfaction over what they described as the government’s rigid approach towards the utilisation of Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds.
Demand for Public Declaration by Chief Minister
The gathering unanimously demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah must begin his Budget speech by clearly announcing that funds reserved for Dalits and tribal communities under SCSP and TSP will not be diverted to finance the state’s guarantee schemes.
Activists insisted that only after such an assurance is publicly made should the Chief Minister proceed with presenting the Budget.
They argued that SCSP-TSP allocations are constitutionally and legally mandated funds meant exclusively for the welfare and development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and should not be used for general expenditure or populist schemes.
Strong Protest Warning
Leaders at the meeting warned that if the government continues what they allege as misuse or diversion of SCSP-TSP funds in the forthcoming Budget, they would stage symbolic protests, including burning copies of the Budget document.
The meeting was chaired by retired IAS officer Lakshminarayana, who emphasised the need for transparency and strict adherence to allocation norms.
Wider Dalit Mobilisation
With participation from over 150 activists across more than 70 organisations, the forum signalled a coordinated statewide mobilisation if their demands are ignored.
Further details discussed in the meeting are expected to be released by the organisers in a formal memorandum to the government.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: SCSP–TSP ನಿಧಿ ದುರ್ಬಳಕೆ ಆದರೆ ಬಜೆಟ್ ಪ್ರತಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಕಿ: ದಲಿತ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳ ಎಚ್ಚರಿಕೆ
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