Siddaramaiah

women

Karnataka

CM

scheme

funding

thrice

By:The schemes may have been tagged ‘‘bhagya’’ (luck) but they have proved unlucky for chief minister. His attempts to correct the “imbalance’’ in funds for the other backward castes (OBC) and minorities through targeted budgetary provision have boomeranged, with his own partymen firing salvos at him.Initially, schemes like compensation of Rs 3,000 for each sheep killed accidentally elicited mirth and snide comments that Siddaramaiah, who belongs to the Kuruba (shepherd) community, was helping his people. But with schemeslike Bidaai -- dubbed Shaadi Bhagya -- that gives Rs 50,000 to poor unmarried, divorced or widowed Muslim, or the more recentDarshan tour programme for minorities and OBC government school children -- dubbed Pravasa Bhagya -- mirth has turned to public anger.Siddaramaiah has had no option but backtrack on both projects. The hue and cry that they are ‘’discriminatory’’ and ‘’divisive’’ has been so high that even the Congress High Command has received complaints from the’s party colleagues. The issue is said to have also surfaced at the first party-government coordination committee meet, held in Delhi on Monday.B S Yeddyurappa’s KJP and then the BJP took up both issues almost as soon as the government orders came out. After a media campaign featuring schoolchildren asking “CM uncle’’ not to discriminate between them and advice from his inner circle , Siddaramaiah has now changed the GO on Pravasa Bhagya to include all government school students, irrespective of caste or community. He has also made a statement that he is considering extending the Shaadi Bhagyato all poor brides.Schemes targeted at the SC/STs, the third part of Siddaramaiah’s Ahinda (minorities, backward castes and dalits) platform have not attracted this kind of criticism because the 18 per cent funds allotted to their development is mandated by the Constitution. Attempts by Siddaramaiah to extend this targetedon caste\religion basis, however, has opened up the old Mandal Pandora’s Box. Just like educational and job reservation for OBCs and minorities were opposed, Siddaramaiah’s caste specific schemes have brought the wrath of the majority on his head. Siddaramaiah’s anti-susperstition bill -- largely aimed at helping the lower castes who have been subjected to undignified practices in the name of religion including nude worship and Madae Snana -- is also under a cloud following outrage from religious leaders..Still, schemes that are targeted at the economically backward -- be it rice at Re 1 per kg under Anna Bhagya or 150 ml milka week for all government school children under Ksheera Bhagya -- have found public acceptance and may gain the Congress crucial votes for the 2014 elections.