Ex-Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Denies Discrimination In Allocation Of Backward Classes Welfare Dept Grants

Last Updated:June 13, 2026, 01:41 IST

According to the allegations, the Finance Department cleared the proposal for 155 institutions a day before DK Shivakumar took oath as the new Chief Minister

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has defended the Backward Classes Welfare Department’s preliminary approval of Rs 71.85 crore for the construction of community halls and hostels, dismissing allegations of bias. The statement comes amid political scrutiny over the timing and distribution of the funds, with critics alleging that a disproportionate share was hurried through to benefit specific communities just prior to a transition of power in the state.

According to the allegations, the Finance Department cleared the proposal for 155 institutions a day before DK Shivakumar took oath as the new Chief Minister. Critics point out that out of the Rs 136 crore earmarked in the 2026-27 state budget for backward community infrastructure, this single order locked in Rs 71.85 crore, with 52 per cent of the total budget allegedly concentrated among a few specific communities. Specifically, opposition voices highlighted that 89 of the 155 beneficiary organisations belong to the Kuruba community that Siddaramaiah belongs to, while T Narasipura taluk alone secured 13 projects. Questions were also raised regarding a Rs 50-lakh grant approved for the Rakesh Siddaramaiah Trust in Gadag, with critics noting that Category-I alone comprises 147 castes, yet the vast majority of the state’s thousands of backward sub-castes were left out of the hurried order.

The Regulatory Framework and Funding Stages

Clarifying the administrative process on social media site X, Siddaramaiah emphasised that the issued order represents a preliminary approval based on initial applications, rather than a final sanction or immediate release of funds. He detailed a strict, three-stage compliance mechanism that all selected organisations must clear before any state capital is disbursed:

Land Ownership Verification: Institutions must submit clear title deeds proving the site or land is registered in their name, vetted directly through their respective Deputy Commissioners.

Local Approvals: Organisations must secure valid building licences and structural blueprints from local municipalities or gram panchayats.

Financial Scrutiny: Beneficiaries must submit three consecutive years of official audit reports to the Backward Classes Welfare Department to establish institutional credibility.

Siddaramaiah noted that funds would only be released progressively in three distinct phases, tied strictly to annual physical verification and progress reviews of the construction sites.

Proportional Representation and Selection Criteria

Addressing the specific allegation of favouritism towards the Kuruba community, the former Chief Minister stated that the higher allocation was a direct reflection of a significantly larger volume of applications received from that community, rather than deliberate discrimination. He clarified that preliminary orders covered a diverse spectrum of groups, including the Kuruba, Madivala, Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Bestha, Balija, Golla, Jetti, Kumbara, Arasu, Helava, Savita Samaja, Uppara, Ganiga, Kuruhina Shetty, Halakki, and Reddy communities. The current list includes approvals for eight Madivala organisations, two Yadava organisations, one Helava organisation, and one Savita community organisation.

The Categorisation Formula: Under standing government guidelines, 70 per cent of the total grant pool is legally mandated for communities falling under Category I and Category IIA, while the remaining 30 per cent is reserved for Category IIIA and Category IIIB.

Siddaramaiah argued that because Categories I and IIA encompass a vastly superior number of individual castes, certain communities naturally saw higher aggregate funding blocks. Reassuring overlooked groups, he stated that this remains a continuous administrative process, confirming that applications from remaining Backward Class communities are actively being processed for subsequent funding rounds.

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