After five years, names of specific religious institutions have found a prime space in the budget speech.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday announced Rs. 25 crore to at least 17 mutts and religious institutions that are “dedicated to providing
dasoha
(food), education, social services, and development on secular basis”.

Each of these mutts, which are overall headquarterd in 10 districts of the State, are associated with a caste or community. Chitradurga and Davangere districts themselves have eight mutts benefiting from this announcement.

A departure

This is a departure from the six budgets presented by the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when no names of specific mutts were mentioned. However, this announcement is in line with the five budgets presented by the BJP government between 2008 and 2013. In these budgets, at least Rs. 152 crore had been allocated to at least 20 mutts and religious institutions.

Among the community-based announcements was the establishment of the Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board at the cost of Rs. 25 crore to work for the “development of economically backward people” in the community.

While this had been a longstanding demand, Mr. Siddaramaiah had rejected it during a programme in Mysuru organised by the community in 2017.

Rs. 25 crore announced for at least 17 mutts and religious institutions

Eight of the mutts are in Chitradurga and Davangere districts

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