BENGALURU: BJP and JDS members in the Council raised slogans against the Karnataka government, demanding scrapping of the Guarantee Implementation Committees. Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy stated that the government admitted to giving Rs 40 lakh to agencies for the implementation of its guarantee schemes. “If you have given money to agencies, why are implementation committees needed?” he questioned.
Joining Narayanaswamy, BJP MLC CT Ravi pointed out that Rs 1 crore has been given to M2M organisation and Rs 9.25 crore to another organisation. “Why are these details kept hidden?” he asked.
Replying to Opposition MLCs, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the government has paid Rs 9.25 crore to an organisation to provide various services, including evaluation of the implementation of guarantee projects. But the file related to this is not being disclosed.
JDS member TA Sharavana objected to minister NS Boseraju’s answer, stating that information about this company was not provided in the answer to the House.
“After the guarantees were implemented in our state, guarantees were also given in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi. We are depositing money directly into the beneficiaries’ accounts, omitting middlemen.
Some agencies were given the responsibility to check whether the money is going from the bank to the beneficiaries’ account properly. Some agencies were given the responsibility without tendering due to an emergency. About 1-2 per cent of this money has been used to check the projects with a huge budget of Rs 52,000 crore,” replied the DCM.
Defending the move, he said, “They (agencies) check whether the schemes are reaching the deserving population and whether there is any misuse. The Opposition created a ruckus in the Lower House on the same issue. You do your politics, we will do our politics. Information available has been given. If there is still an answer hidden inside, it will be taken out and given to you in written form. If further discussion is needed on this issue, submit a separate proposal.”
With Opposition MLCs demanding more clarity, Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti intervened and said 30 minutes would be provided for discussion on Friday.