Mangaluru: Justifying the Congress government’s budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah termed it as progressive, well balanced and inclusive. He said that the government has sworn by the constitution, thus it is “my duty to view every citizen of the state as an equal without any partiality while preparing the budget”.
He was addressing the gathering at Puttur after inaugurating Mini Vidhana Sowdha. Siddaramaiah who arrived two hours later than the scheduled time inaugurated a building of the Morarji Desai Residential School by unveiling a name plaque and laid the foundation stone for an Additional Inspection Bungalow. The government had spent Rs. 9 crore for construction of the Mini Vidhana Sowdha. The foundation stone for the building was laid by Jagadish Shettar.
In his half-an-hour long speech, he lauded the local MLA Shakunthala Shetty for her pro-activeness in redressing the problems of people. “If Shakuntala knocks my door, I should be prepared to see many applications pertaining to her constituency.” He advised other MLAs to take a cue from the lady MLA.
Chief Minister ridiculed the allegations of being partisan to backward and minority sects and said strengthening backward sections should be the key priority of any government. The government, in the budget announced free rice to BPL card holders. Rice and wheat for Above Poverty Level card holders would be issued at Rs. 15 and Rs. 10 respectively. He said the government’s duty was to ensure social security for all sections of people without any prejudices of caste creed or sex. He said the budget was inclusive, progressive, pro-people and well balanced and it looks to achieve social justice.
The Congress government which will complete two years in the month of May has implemented a dream scheme for the backward, minority and Dalit (Ahinda). The legislation Special Component Plan (SCP) for Scheduled Caste and Tribal sub-plan (TSP) was introduced by his government and caters to the needs of weaker section of the society. He informed that as much as Rs. 15,834 crore was spent last year on this scheme and allocation has been increased to Rs.16,326 crore. The unspent money would carry forward to the next fiscal year.
The Head of the state cabinet showed his displeasure over increased communal violence in the coastal district. He said the state has informed the police to take stringent action against those who disrupt communal harmony. He mocked the act of moral policing and expressed even he being a law student he was not aware of such terminology (moral policing). He urged the people of DK to maintain peace and communal harmony in the district.
The MLA Shakuntala Shetty said that she was elated at the fact that she was able see the completion of Mini Vidhana Sowdha which houses many government offices under one roof. In her short address, she urged the chief minister to resolve the problem of site purchase which has major obstacles under rule 9/11. She also demanded one medical college for Puttur.
Public Works Department minister H C Mahadevappa, Power Minister D K Shivkumar, district-in-charge minister Ramanath Rai, Youth affaires and Fisheries minister Abhayachandra Jain, Kannada and Culture minister Umashree, Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake local MLAs and MLC from the district were present for the program
