BENGALURU: A group of SC/ST ministers and MLAs held a secret meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday evening, just one day before the legislature session is scheduled to conclude, focussing on the contentious issue of Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds being allegedly diverted to support the State Government’s guarantee schemes. Informed sources said that the legislators expressed unhappiness and termed it as a “let down”.
They held the meeting at a secret location amid rising concerns that the SCs/STs were not getting their rightful due.
They said that they were concerned that the funds earmarked for them had been diverted to the Shakti scheme which supports women to travel in buses for free by bearing their travel expenses and providing them with financial support.
Congress MLC Sudhama Das had raised the issue in the House much to the embarrassment of the Grand Old Party. Earlier, the MLC had raised the issue at the Congress Legislature Party meeting which did not go down well with the party leadership. According to details emerging from the meeting, the group plans to escalate their concerns by writing to the Congress high command, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
A letter has already been drafted, urging the leadership to halt the fund transfers, arguing that such diversions undermine the empowerment of oppressed sections and violate the spirit of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan Act, 2013.
“The diversion of funds to the guarantees is not acceptable and must be stopped immediately,” the letter reportedly reads, emphasising that SCP-TSP resources should remain ring-fenced for targeted community upliftment.
A minister who chaired the discussions, has previously defended the government’s approach, stating in legislative debates that the transfers are legal under Section 7C of the Act, which allows proportional allocations for schemes benefiting SC/ST populations. “These funds are being used exclusively for SC/ST beneficiaries within the guarantee programs, ensuring equitable distribution without misuse,” he had remarked in an earlier Assembly session, echoing sentiments from Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa, who confirmed in August 2025 that about Rs 13,500 crore had been redirected but insisted it was for community-specific benefits.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from opposition BJP, who accuse the Congress of systemic injustice against Dalits and tribals.