Karnataka Dalit Entrepreneurs Association urges government to clear pending funds and land allotments

Highlighting that the delay in the release of essential funds by the State government to the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has stalled new industrial projects for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs, the Karnataka Dalit Entrepreneurs Association has called for the immediate release of the pending funds.

According to the association, an industrial land subsidy of ₹825 crore meant for SC/ST entrepreneurs is currently pending from the government to the KIADB. Due to the non-release of these funds, the process of approving new industrial projects for SC/ST entrepreneurs has been stalled.

“According to information gathered by the Association, about 33% of the total cases have various issues, such as disputed land, uneven plots, lack of basic amenities, and non-payment of compensation to landowners. Excluding these disputed cases, the Association estimates that the pending grant to be paid to KIADB is only about ₹510 crore,” a statement from the association said, demanding the immediate release of the amount.

The association also called for the disputed cases to be resolved quickly.

Prioritise pending allotments

Highlighting reservation backlogs, the statement further noted that the allotment of 391 acres of land under the SC/ST reservation quota remains pending, as per KIADB records and documents, and that the decision to rectify this shortfall was never implemented. The association also objected to the non-implementation of the KIADB Board’s 2014 decision to provide reservation for SC/ST entrepreneurs in old industrial areas developed before 2009.

“Several SC/ST entrepreneurs have obtained approval for their projects and have paid advance money years ago while waiting for industrial plot allotments. It is unjust that KIADB has issued new notifications for plot allotments without resolving these older pending cases. Priority must be given to settling these long-pending allotment cases of SC/ST entrepreneurs who paid advance deposits years ago before proceeding with any new allotment process,” the statement said.

“The Social Welfare Department, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Department of Industries and Commerce, and Finance Department must work in coordination to resolve all pending issues related to SC/ST grants, reservations, land allotments and incentive schemes within a fixed time frame,” it added.