Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai instructed officials to address all shortfalls in the allotment of industrial sites for Dalit entrepreneurs as per the quota announced in 2009. This was announced after a delegation of the Karnataka Dalit Entrepreneurs Association met with Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday.
He instructed the additional chief secretary (industries department), the Secretary of Social Welfare Department, and the Chief Executive Officer of KIADB to submit a land audit report, and the shortfall in the allotment of land must be addressed within the stipulated time.
The association members said 60% of Industrial sites for SC/ST entrepreneurs are allotted in district-level single window committees and 40% in state-level committees. Since the project cost of many entrepreneurs will be below Rs 15 crore, the district level allotment percentage can be hiked. The CM instructed to take steps for allotment of 70% in the district level and 30% at the state level. The association members requested the CM to instruct KSFC to consider the actual cost of industrial land as collateral security at the time of availing loan.
The CM said he would take the decision after discussing it with the Finance Department.
Bommai promised to consider their demand during the next budget on extending salary incentives if a minimum of 10 SC/ST employees are working in industries run by Dalit entrepreneurs.
Minister for Social Welfare and Backward Classes Kota Srinivasa Pujari, Karnataka Dalit Entrepreneurs Association President L. Hanumanthaiah, Working President C.G.Srinivasan, CM’s Principal Secretary N.Manjunath Prasad, ACS (Commerce & Industries Department) Dr.E.V.Ramanareddy, Finance Department Secretary Ekroop Kaur, Social Welfare Department Secretary P.Manivannan and others were present.