CM doles out Rs 169 cr to 65 mutts for education

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Eyeing on the votes of backward classes and Dalits in 2023 Assembly elections, the BJP government headed by Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai has released Rs 119 crore for 65 educational institutions run by various mutts across the state.

His predecessor, BS Yediyurappa had doled out crores of rupees to a majority of Lingayat/Veerashhaiva mutts since they are said to be the main vote bank of BJP. To cut the votes of backward classes and Dalits, the incumbent CM Bommai has released funds worth Rs 169 crore to 60 plus educational institutions run and maintained by the mutts in the name of improvement and developments of schools/colleges. To avoid criticism of releasing funds to the mutts directly, the BJP government has found the via media of the educational institutions to pocket the votes of those community votes. The Finance Department has given its clearance for releasing Rs 169 crore to the mutts on Friday. During pre-budget discussion, a delegation of the seers of various backward classes and the Dalit mutts had met the CM and had appealed him to release funds towards the improvement and development of schools run by them. Now, Bommai has responded to their plea by announcing it in the State Budget 2022-23 presented by him on March 10, 2022. The Office of Chief Minister has tweeted regarding the release of Rs 169 crore funds to 69 mutts across the State.

The Gurupeeta/mutts which have received a grant of Rs 2 crore each are; Sri Kaginele Mahasamsthan, Madaara Chennaiah Gurupeeta Trust, Valmiki Gurupeeta, Cheluvadi Gurupeeta, Nijasharana Ambigara Chowdaiah Gurupeeta, Meedara Keteshwara Mutt, SJS Mahasamsthan, Muddara Trust, Shivayogi Sri Siddeshwara Swami Trust, Hemavema Sadhbhavana trust.

The mutts that have received Rs 0ne crore each are; Jagadguru Gurusiddeshwara Bruhanmutt, Brungeshwara Mutt, Siddashree Samsthe, Saviita Samaja Peeta, Sarur Mahasamsthan Sri Jagadguru Revanasiddeshwara Gurupeeta Trust, Amogha Siddeshwara Mutt Trust, Guru Someshwara Pratisthan, Adishakthi Mahasamsthan Mutt, Mahila Mathadeeshara Sansat, Jagadguru Gowli Gurupeeta Mahasamsthan Mutt, Jagadguru Gurusiddeshwara Bruhanmutt, Brungeshwara Mutt, Sadguru Paramahamsa Vidyavarenya Yogeshwara Paaramartha Vishwastha Dharmika Trust.

By doling out funds, the BJP is planning to garner the support of dalits and kurubas, but also the micro-scopic minority communities who play a vital role during Assembly elections where each vote counts.

The practice of releasing funds for the mutts was started by Yediyurappa while he was the chief minister for almost three years. His successors, DV Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar of BJP; and Siddaamaiah of the Congress Government, have also followed it by giving away funds to the mutts in the name of helping them in providing education to kids free of cost.

These backward communities were spread across the State and would play a vital role in the Assembly polls.