Bangalore: The NCSC Wednesday rapped the Karnataka Government for its "failure" to utilise Central grants meant for the welfare of the SCs and expressed utter dismay over `non-action` against 4,200 persons who secured employment producing "false caste certificates".
Mounting a barrage of attack on the state government, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Commission Chairman Buta Singh accused it of non-implementation of programmes drawn up for SCs welfare and non-utilisation of Central grants under special component plan (SCP).
During the 11th Plan, the state spent only Rs 6,004 crore as aginst the allocation of Rs 9,063.06 crore under the SCP, which "is a wilful act", he told reporters here.
Speaking after a state-level review meeting of economic and social development of SCs here along with top state officials, Singh said, "4,200 persons are serving in
Government of Karnataka on false caste certificates. But unfortunately no action is taken against them, so that they retire safely".
He also said Karnataka stood sixth in the country in crimes committed against SCs.
"The rate of conviction is just 2.03 per cent, the lowest in the country. The overall picture is depressing," he said, adding it was 17.5 per cent in Bihar, 13.3 per cent in Andhra
Pradesh and 26.9 per cent in Assam.
Singh lashed out at the state government for implementing reservation benefits only for 15 per cent of SC population, falling short by 1.62 per cent of the constitutionally
guaranteed quota.
"The Commission cannot digest this. There is no roaster list in Karnataka and this has resulted in non-identifying the number of backlog posts due to SCs," Singh said.
Law stipulates that every state should have a Chief Liaison Officer to monitor implementation of programmes for SCs. However, there is no such officer in Karnataka.
State Chief Secretary S V Ranganath, who was also present, said the government would furnish replies to the issues raised by the Commission in two days.
PTI
