Bengaluru: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah has rejected accusations of discrimination and bias over his govt’s preliminary approval of Rs 71.8 crore to 155 organisations of various backward communities to construct community halls and student hostels.A row erupted over the order which was issued on June 3, the day Siddaramaiah stepped down as CM and DK Shivakumar assumed office.After copies of the order circulated on social media, critics alleged favouritism, claiming that organisations of the Kuruba community, to which Siddaramaiah belongs, received over Rs 41 crore of the total allocation. Allegations also surfaced that a trust named after Siddaramaiah’s late son, Rakesh Siddaramaiah, in Gadag was sanctioned Rs 50 lakh.Siddaramaiah clarified that the department’s order is only a preliminary sanction, not a direct release of funds. He explained that the Kuruba community received a larger share simply because a higher number of organisations from the community submitted applications.He highlighted that preliminary approvals were also granted to numerous other communities, including Madivala, Lingayat, Vokkaliga, Besta, Balija, Golla, Jetti, Kumbara, Arasu, Helava, Savita Samaja, Uppara, Ganiga, Kuruhina Shetty, Halakki, and Reddy.Pointing out that the list is not final, Siddaramaiah said applications from other OBC organisations are being examined, and funds will be released to them as well. He said the govt strictly follows a continuous reservation formula: 70% of funds are earmarked for Categories I and II-A, while 30% is reserved for Categories III-A and III-B. The higher allocation to certain groups reflects the larger number of castes and organisations covered under Categories I and II-A.To secure final funding under govt guidelines, organisations must submit proof of land ownership, local body building licences, and three years of audited financial statements through their district commissioners. Funds will be released in three phases based on annual reviews of construction progress.
