No, Karnataka govt has not limited public school development funds to only Rs 50 cr

By: Ankita Kulkarni
February 28 2024

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Screenshot of viral posts on social media. (Source: Facebook/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

What is the claim?

Karnataka's Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, unveiled the state budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year on February 16, 2024, with a total allocation of Rs 3.71 lakh crore. Subsequently, social media posts emerged, claiming that a mere Rs 50 crore of the entire budget was allocated for the development of government schools within the state. In contrast, allocations of Rs 100 crore and Rs 200 crore were designated for the Waqf Board and Christian community development, respectively, the posts said.

A specific post, featuring a screenshot from a Kannada news report, implied a neglect of school development, titled, “₹50 crores for the development of government schools.” The text below the screenshot, also written in Kannada, reads, “The great people who said to build a school instead of a temple are now missing because 100 crores for the development of Waqf board, 200 crores for the development of Christian missionaries, but only 50 crores is enough for the school?” Archived versions of the posts can be accessed here, here, and here.

Screenshot of viral posts on social media. (Source: Facebook/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the claim made in the viral posts is misleading; an amount of Rs 50 crore is assigned only for developing science, computer labs, and internet facilities in government schools, and more than Rs 850 crore is allocated for overall infrastructure development.

What is the truth?

The official budget document, accessible through the Karnataka Finance Department's website, provides a detailed breakdown from page 35 under the section “SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY.” It reveals that the previous fiscal year (2023-24) saw a Rs 600 crore allocation towards upgrading government school and pre-university college infrastructure. This allocation has increased to Rs 850 crore for the year 2024-25, aimed at constructing new classrooms and sanitation facilities.

Additionally, Rs 50 crore supports the modernization of science and computer labs, while Rs 10 crore funds the 'Marusinchana Programme' to boost the learning capabilities of students in grades six and seven. Funds are also set aside for the development of pre-university colleges and higher education institutions.

The screenshot shows the state budget document highlighting the amount allotted for developing government schools. (Source: Karnataka Finance Department/Screenshot)

An Indian Express report corroborates these figures, noting that the education sector received a total of Rs 44,422 crore in the 2024 state budget. Moreover, the TV9 Kannada news segment cited in the viral post, which can be viewed on their official YouTube channel, clarifies that the Rs 50 crore is intended for lab upgrades—a detail omitted in the misleading social media posts.

The claims about the budget allocations for the Waqf board and Christian communities are accurate, yet they omit crucial context. The budget document, within the "Minorities Welfare" section, states: "An allocation of Rs 100 crore will be made for the development of Waqf properties," and "Rs 200 crore will be allocated for the development of the Christian community." Although the figures cited in the viral post are correct and included in the budget, they do not surpass the investment allocated for educational infrastructure.

The verdict 

The allocation of Rs 50 crore for science and computer labs in Karnataka's government schools for 2024-25 is a targeted investment within a broader educational development strategy, not the full extent of funding for school infrastructure, which exceeds Rs 850 crore. Therefore, the circulating claims are misleading as they misrepresent the budget's intentions and allocations.