A delegation of Buddhist monks on Monday urged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to place the newly announced Buddhist Development Corporation under the Department of Minority Welfare instead of the Social Welfare Department. The delegation met Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha and submitted a memorandum seeking the administrative change.

The delegation was led by Karnataka State Minorities Commission member Jigmet Wangdhos Jyoti and included Buddhist monks from different states, including Lobsang Norbu and Panichaito. The representatives thanked the Karnataka government for making provisions in the 2026-27 Budget for establishing a separate development board or corporation for the Buddhist community, describing it as a long-standing demand.

However, the delegation requested that the proposed corporation be administered by the Minority Welfare Department. In their memorandum, the representatives argued that the arrangement would be similar to the Christian Development Authority and would provide what they described as a more appropriate framework for implementing welfare and development programmes for Buddhists.

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The delegation also stressed the need for a dedicated institution to address the socio-economic and developmental requirements of the Buddhist community in Karnataka. They urged the government to ensure that welfare measures and development programmes reach eligible beneficiaries and that the corporation is provided with the necessary administrative support to function effectively.

The representatives welcomed the state government's decision to establish the corporation but sought early steps to make it fully operational. They also requested Shivakumar's support in ensuring that the proposed body can undertake programmes focused on the overall welfare and development of Buddhists across Karnataka.

The meeting follows the Karnataka government's announcement of the Buddhist Development Corporation as part of its efforts to address the community's development concerns. The delegation's request now places the administrative control of the proposed corporation under consideration as the government works on its implementation.

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