Mysuru: Chief Minister Siddharamaiah today inaugurated Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Bhavan, unveiled the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and laid the foundation stone for Sasyakashi, at a function organised jointly by the District Administration and Mysuru Zilla Panchayat at the premises of Inspection Bungalow in the temple town of Nanjangud which had been decked up for the occasion.
Speaking to media persons on his arrival from Bengaluru at Mandakalli Airport, Siddharamaiah said that more emphasis would be given to Agriculture, Irrigation and Social Welfare Departments in this year’s State Budget.
Adding that 60 per cent of the programmes announced during the previous budget were implemented by the end of January 2015, he said that the remaining works were being expedited.
When asked if he would announce special programmes for Mysuru, the Chief Minister said that he wished not to say anything now and added that Central Government should allow the State Government to collect a few of the taxes it collects, to be used for developmental works.
Caste-based Census
Reacting to the opposition being faced for taking up caste-based census in the State, Siddharamaiah said that the programme was not newly implemented by his government but was being continued from where it was left previously.
He said that the caste-based census was started during the British Rule in the country and was carried out from 1881-1931 and later stopped for unknown reasons.
Siddharamaiah added that caste-based census would help accessing the economic condition of the people and serve social justice to those belonging to economically weaker sections and extend benefits for the needy.
He said that the word Dalit does not belong or restrict to any specific community. Whoever has deprived from the basic benefits of society or belonged to socially and economically weaker section of society are ‘Dalits’.
Sharing his personal life, he said that he did not get better education or was not socially empowered during his childhood. Dr B R Ambedkar never restricted the term ‘dalit’ to any specific community. He defined it as whoever is missed out of the benefits of society and government are ‘Dalits. I am also a Dalit, he phrased.
Siddharamaiah chided BJP for opposing the caste-based census saying that since BJP is sitting in the Opposition, they would oppose anything.
Reacting to the renewal of Mining Licence in State, the CM said that the renewal of mining licence has been done according to rules and regulations.
He added that stringent action would be taken against culprits responsible for yesterday’s clash in Shivamogga.
Ministers V. Sreenivasa Prasad, Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, H.S. Mahadevaprasad, H. Anjaneya, B. Ramanath Rai, DC C. Shikha, SP Abhinav Khare, Mayor R. Lingappa, ZP President Dr. Pushpa B. Amaranth, MUDA Chairman K.R. Mohan Kumar, MUDA Commissioner S. Palaiah were among those present.
The function was underway at Nanjangud when we went to the press.
Later in the evening, CM Siddharamaiah will inaugurate the Chamundi Wildlife Conservation, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre set up by the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) at Koorgalli after which, he would lay the foundation stone for College Girls Hostel to be built by Kaginele Mutt at Vijayanagar 3rd Stage.
Earlier at airport
CM Siddaramaiah speaking to media persons at Mandakalli airport said, “60% previous budget announcements have been accomplished by January. The upcoming budget of state government will concentrate on agriculture, irrigation, health, education, social welfare.”
He also said that Caste census will be conducted to know the social and economic status of the people. “The central government should allow for states to exert discretionary powers which can allows us to use taxation funds for the development of the state. It is better to announce it before Central government budget,” he said.
He also warned that Action will be taken against those who will disturb communal harmony.
Speaking about special grants to Mysuru in the upcoming budget he told to wait till the announcement of budget to know the special grants to Mysuru.
He urged to Central government to not to cutdown goods for social security programmes.
