Bengaluru: Amid stiff criticism for using SC-ST sub-plan funds for its guarantee schemes, the govt launched a special drive to identify Dalit beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, under which women heads of poor households receive a monthly income of Rs 2,000. Authorities insisted the exercise was aimed at proper utilisation of SC-ST sub-plan funds, but opposition BJP criticised the govt for allegedly “diverting” these funds. The drive will be completed on Saturday. The department of women and child development has distributed caste declaration forms and instructed district administrations to reach out to ST and SC beneficiaries. This effort runs alongside an ongoing initiative to include eligible women not filing GST or income-tax returns, with about 50,500 households expected to be added to the existing list of nearly 1.3 crore beneficiaries. “We want to ensure SC-ST sub-plan fund reach intended beneficiaries,” said Laxmi Hebbalkar, women and child development minister. “We also want to ensure that no eligible woman is left out of the scheme.” Govt data shows that of the total Gruha Lakshmi beneficiaries, 23.3 lakh are from SC communities and 9.1 lakh are STs. However, around 2 lakh have not declared their caste. “These beneficiaries are receiving the benefit from money meant for the general category,” an official said. “We want to add them to the SC-ST list so that sub-plan funds can be proportionately used for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.” Chief minister Siddaramaiah, also finance minister, had allocated Rs 42,017 crore for the SC-ST sub-plan for the current fiscal, with Rs 7,438 crore earmarked for Gruha Lakshmi. Of this, Rs 5,364 crore is for SCs and Rs 2,074 crore for STs. A sum of Rs 21,169 crore was allocated for beneficiaries from other communities. Authorities said once eligible household heads declare their caste, sub-plan funds can be fully used for Dalit beneficiaries, and the remaining proportion will benefit other communities. However, opposition functionaries criticised the drive, claiming it is a diversionary tactic. “The Justice Nagamohan Das commission recently conducted a survey of Dalit households for the purpose of providing internal reservation. The govt could have used that data instead of asking beneficiaries to declare their caste afresh,” said Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, leader of opposition in the legislative council. “This shows the govt just wants to hoodwink Dalits.” Countering the charge, Hebbalkar said BJP is politicising the issue and urged the opposition to be constructive. She said the govt has spent Rs 52,500 crore on Gruha Lakshmi since its launch in 2023, and payments are up to date till July, with the Aug payout to be released shortly. On inclusion of beneficiaries not filing GST or I-T returns, she said her department is awaiting concurrence from the finance department.
