Ministers Furnish Own Homes at Government's Expense

Indian Express: Bengaluru: Friday, 20 November 2015.

The state government has announced austerity measures following drought in 136 taluks, but its ministers are helping themselves generously to an allowance to do up their homes.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his ministers, besides other VIPs like the Lokayukta, have spent `2.71 crore on furniture.

Four ministers have drawn about `40 lakh to spruce up their private homes in Bengaluru.

Shivaraj Tangadagi, Minister for Minor Irrigation, has spent `6.52 lakh, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundurao `9.95 lakh, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda `4.21 lakh and Primary and Secondary Education Minister Kimmane Rathnakar `9.80 lakh to furnish their private residences.

According to documents obtained under the Right to Information Act (RTI), 40 functionaries have spent `2.71 crore of tax-payers’ money.

Those benefiting from the allowance include Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao, leaders of the opposition and the Karnataka representative in Delhi.      

The information was obtained by activist Marilingegowda Mali Patil and the details are available with the Express.

Though ministers are eligible for `10 lakh each every year for ‘furnishing’, their insensitivity is drawing flak.

“Of course it is legitimate for them to use the allowance, but they should show some consideration and ethics while spending government money,” Maali Patil said.

Minister Kimmane Rathnakar, who has been given an official residence, has bought furniture for his private residence at Sadashivanagar, Maali Patil alleged.

The RTI document covers the period between May 19, 2013 and August 31, 2015.

After Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (`19.71 lakh), Rural Development Minister H K Patil has drawn the most (`10.86 lakh) from this allowance.

Next comes Shivashankara Reddy, Deputy Speaker, who billed `10.44 lakh, followed by Co-operative Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad, who got `10.38 lakh.

However, nine ministers have not touched their ‘furnishing’ allowance. The list includes Ramalinga Reddy, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Vinay Kumar Sorake, M B Patil, Baburao Chinchanasur, H Anjaneya, Roshan Baig and Umashree.