Addressing media persons at a press meet held at the district Congress office in Mangalore on Thursday, Mr. Shetty said that the BJP led state government is finding means to recover from its bankruptcy by blocking facilities which were provided to SC/ST communities through the MCC.
“While an amount of Rs. 1,50,000 was earlier being provided to SC/STs for construction of their houses, the grant has now been brought down to Rs. 70,000,” Mr. Shetty said adding that other facilities such as Rs 20,000 for house repairs, Rs. 25,000 for weddings of poor girls under the 'Tali Bhagya' scheme, medical expenses of the poor, expenses for electricity connections to SC/ST houses, expenses of tap water connection and Sintex tanks, besides grants for places of worship of the SC/STs have been completely stopped, Mr. Shetty said.
Shashidhar Hegde, Councilor and former Mayor, said that construction costs have shot up over the years and instead of increasing the grant for construction of houses from the earlier amount of Rs. 1,50,000, the BJP ruled administration has decreased the amount.
Appi, another Councilor, said that SC/STs are not being given their share of funds kept aside by the MCC in its annual budget. An amount of Rs. 1.75 crore is still lying unused under the fund for this academic year, she said.
Dinesh Poojary, Leader of Opposition, MCC Council, Corporators Ashok and Harinath, PV Mohan were among those present.
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