Clear pending benefits under Bhovi Corporation within seven days, officials said

Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation Chairman M. Ramappa at a review meeting on the progress of various welfare schemes at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Bidar on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation chairman M. Ramappa on Tuesday directed officials to ensure that all pending benefits and applications of beneficiaries under the corporation’s various schemes in Bidar district are cleared within seven days and a compliance report submitted.

Presiding over a review meeting on the progress of social programs implemented by the Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Bidar, Mr. Ramappa said that the Bhovi community remains among the most economically and educationally backward sections of the society and requires targeted intervention by the government.

The meeting was jointly organized by the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, Social Welfare Department and Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation. This was followed by an interaction with community leaders.

Mr. Ramappa said that apart from the five government guarantee schemes, the company is implementing eight social schemes which are specifically aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the community.

“However, many eligible beneficiaries are unable to avail of these programs due to lack of awareness and educational disadvantages,” he said.

Expressing concern over the dropout among children belonging to the community, he directed the Ministry of Education to identify dropouts and take necessary measures to ensure that no child is deprived of education.

He also noted that many members of the Bhovi community depend on occupations related to stone quarrying and earthworks in rocky and hilly areas. Referring to complaints of harassment by some departments, including forest, police and mining departments, he said officials should create awareness about the legal provisions and duties of the department rather than subjecting people to unnecessary hardship.

The chairman of the corporation also highlighted the complaints of the beneficiaries about difficulties in obtaining loans under government schemes. He said banks should not insist on conditions like CIBIL score, security or guarantors unless such requirements are mandated under government-sponsored welfare schemes.

Beneficiaries facing such problems have been advised to approach the District Manager of the Corporation, Deputy Commissioner or CEO of the Zilla Panchayat for redressal.

He directed officials of the Women and Child Development Department to visit Bhovi colonies and settlements, promote the formation of women’s self-help groups and ensure that information about welfare schemes reaches the eligible families through coordinated inter-departmental efforts.

Mr. Ramappa further announced that 60-day tailoring training centers have been set up on a pilot basis in Chitradurga and Mysuru districts to improve the employability of the unemployed youth of the community. The initiative will be extended to other districts in the coming days, he added.

During the interactive meeting, the community leaders raised several issues, including seizure of tractors and equipment used by mining and earthworks workers and misuse of caste certificates by people from other communities to get benefits meant for Bhovi community members.

Zilla Panchayat CEO Girish Badole advised the Bhovi Corporation officials to regularly report the grievances of the beneficiaries to the district administration and coordinate with various departments to ensure effective implementation of welfare programmes.

Later, Mr. Ramappa distributed the checks to the beneficiaries.

Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti, CEO of Karnataka Bhovi Development Corporation Shivaswamy, District Manager Prema Sagar, district and taluk officials and community leaders were present.

Published – 23 Jun 2026 20:22 IST