Siddaramaiah Slams Inadequate Union Funding for Karnataka’s Centrally Sponsored Schemes

After holding a review meeting of centrally sponsored schemes, Siddaramaiah explained that there are 67 centrally sponsored schemes and financing these schemes are shared between Union Government and the State Government while it is 50:50 ratio in some, it is 60:40 and some others in the ratio of 70:30.

In Karnataka, he said, an amount of Rs 46, 859 crore has been spent on centrally sponsored schemes and pointed out in 2024-25, for centrally sponsored schemes, Union Government’s share has been Rs 22, 758 crore but the Union Government released Rs 18, 561 crore and the financing fell short by Rs 4, 195 crore. The State Government’s share in centrally sponsored schemes has been Rs 24, 960 crore.

At the meeting officials brought to his notice that funds from the Union Government to centrally sponsored schemes gets released at the last moment and they find it difficult to spend the amount within stipulated period, he said and stated “If funds from the Union Government are released in March, then funds won’t lapse.”

“I have asked officials concerned/Lok Sabha members to exert pressure on Union Government through repeated letters asking for timely release of funds for the centrally sponsored schemes,’ said Chief Minister and stated he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Home Amit Shah and Union Minister of Finance Niramala Sitharaman urging for funds.

Siddaramaiah urged the Union Government must release funds it has assured Karnataka for centrally sponsored schemes.