The state government has used a significant portion of the amount earmarked for the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) from 2023 to implement five guarantee schemes of the Congress government.
According to statistics shared by Social Affairs Minister HC Mahadevappa in response to a question by Hemalath Nayak in the Legislative Council in Belagavi on Friday, of the total amount spent on SCSP and TSP, a whopping 31% was used for guarantee schemes.
Money wasted
The total amount for SCSP and TSP for 2023-24 was ₹ 35,221.8 crore, of which ₹ 34,369.85 crore was released and ₹ 34,245.76 crore was finally spent. In 2024-24, the total amount spent on SCSP and TSP was ₹38,717.74 crore. In the current year, till November 2025, the government has spent ₹14,938.19 on SCSP and TSP.
Since the Congress Party came to power in 2023, the government has spent a total of ₹87,901.69 crore on SCSP and TSP. This amount includes ₹ 27,630.2 crore spent on guarantee schemes.
In his reply, the minister defended the use of SCSP/TSP funds for guarantee programs, stating that Section 7(C) of the SCSP/TSP Act allows the use of funds in accordance with the number of SC and ST population.
He said that the amount used for the guarantee schemes reached the beneficiaries of SC and ST communities.
Bus passengers
Interestingly, he said that his department has sought information from the transport ministry about the number of SC and ST women who have benefited from the Shakti scheme, under which women passengers could travel free on KSRTC buses. Ms. Nayak, MLC, wondered how the Transport Department could share information about SC/ST passengers as they do not collect caste details while issuing tickets.
Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy appointed Speaker Basavaraj Horatti to allow sufficient time for a detailed discussion on the matter.
Published – 12 Dec 2025 21:32 IST
