Christian Organisation Urges Karnataka Government to Release Full ₹250 Crore Budget Allocation
Seeks separate funding for education, employment, skill development and welfare programmes
Bengaluru, September 4, 2026: The Karnataka Christha Sangatane has urged the Karnataka Government to release the full ₹250 crore announced in the State Budget for the welfare and comprehensive development of the Christian community in Karnataka.
In a representation dated September 2, 2026, addressed to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar through Karnataka Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza, Karnataka Christha Sangatane Founder and President Stany Pinto expressed concern that only approximately ₹85 crore of the ₹250 crore budget allocation had so far been released for the benefit of the Christian community. Pinto said the ₹85 crore allocation was inadequate to meet the wider developmental and socio-economic requirements of the Christian community across the State. He pointed out that approximately ₹85 crore had earlier been provided primarily for infrastructure-related works such as church development, cemetery development and construction and development of Samudaya Bhavans and community centres.
According to the representation, the present requirements of the community extend beyond infrastructure. The organisation has sought financial assistance for economically weaker families, daily-wage workers, small traders, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons. It has also sought support for professional education, skill development, competitive examination coaching, employment-oriented programmes and entrepreneurship initiatives for youth and professionals.
Focus on education and overseas scholarships
The representation has also called for greater government support for higher education and competitive examinations. It sought financial assistance for coaching programmes for students preparing for IAS, IPS and other Central and State-level competitive examinations.
It further urged the government to introduce a properly funded Overseas Education Scholarship or Foreign Education Assistance Scheme for deserving Christian students, along with scholarships for higher and professional education within India. The organisation argued that the existing ₹85 crore cannot realistically cover both infrastructure development and direct welfare programmes benefiting individual members of the community.
The representation lists 12 areas requiring financial support, including church infrastructure, cemeteries, community centres, assistance to economically weaker families, affordable credit for entrepreneurs, self-employment programmes, higher education, skill development, scholarships, overseas education and professional advancement.
Separate budget heads sought
Pinto has proposed that the government earmark funds under separate heads to ensure that infrastructure expenditure does not reduce funds intended for direct beneficiary welfare.
The representation has sought separate provisions for infrastructure development, economic development, education, overseas education, employment and skill development, and women and youth development. It also urged the Chief Minister to issue directions to the concerned departments, the Minority Welfare Department and the Christha Abhivruddhi Nigama to release the balance amount from the announced ₹250 crore at the earliest.
The organisation has further called for a transparent mechanism for utilisation of the funds covering both infrastructure projects and direct beneficiary-oriented welfare programmes. ‘Ensure benefits reach people directly’
The representation stated that the Christian community has made significant contributions to Karnataka in the fields of education, healthcare, social service and charitable activities. It argued that providing economically weaker members of the community with better educational, economic and professional opportunities would enable them to contribute further to the development of the State.
Stany Pinto appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that the entire ₹250 crore announced in the Budget is actually released and that the funds are utilised not only for buildings and infrastructure but also for education, employment, entrepreneurship, overseas studies and economic empowerment of members of the Christian community.
