Fri Jul 18 13:40:17 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Mishra of Ballari district, Karnataka, held a review meeting regarding the implementation of the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) for the fiscal year 2024-25. He expressed concern about the under-utilisation of allocated funds by various departments and stressed the importance of achieving 100% utilisation as mandated by the Karnataka SCSP/TSP Act. He directed officials to prioritise beneficiary-oriented schemes and threatened disciplinary action against departments failing to utilise funds effectively. He specifically questioned the Department of Handlooms and Textiles regarding their poor performance, directing them to communicate beneficiary disinterest to higher authorities if applicable.
**News Article:**
**Ballari DC Demands Full Utilisation of Funds for SC/ST Welfare**
*Ballari, July 18, 2025* – Ballari Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Mishra has issued a stern directive to district officials, demanding the complete and appropriate utilisation of funds allocated under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) for the fiscal year 2024-25. The directive came during a District Monitoring Committee meeting held on Friday.
Mr. Mishra expressed strong concern over the under-utilisation of funds by several departments, stressing the need for 100% compliance with the Karnataka SCSP/TSP Act of 2013. “Funds released under these sub-plans must be used exclusively for their intended purposes,” he stated, urging departments to identify and implement feasible projects using the first-quarter grants.
He further questioned the lack of progress in fund utilisation up to March 2025, demanding updated utilisation details and the clearance of all pending bills. Mr. Mishra has instructed the Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department to issue notices to non-compliant departments and initiate disciplinary action as outlined in the SCSP/TSP Act.
“Priority must be given to schemes that directly benefit the intended recipients,” Mr. Mishra emphasized. “We can only claim progress when government funds reach the beneficiaries.”
The Department of Handlooms and Textiles came under particular scrutiny for their poor fund utilisation despite receiving allocations under SCSP and TSP. Mr. Mishra challenged the department’s failure to implement programs and instructed them to officially report any lack of beneficiary interest to state headquarters and the district nodal officer. He reiterated that department heads are directly accountable for the allocated budget.
The meeting was attended by key district officials, including representatives from the Social Welfare Department, Backward Classes Welfare, Food and Civil Supplies, Health and Family Welfare, and Urban Development. The Deputy Commissioner’s strong stance signals a renewed focus on ensuring effective implementation of welfare programs for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Ballari district.
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