H.D. Kote: “The State Government, as part of its commitment to the welfare of SC/ST Communities, has set aside Rs. 15,834 crores for the same this year,” said Chief Minister Siddharamaiah.

Speaking after inaugurating a slew of development programmes at the Government PU College Premises here yesterday, the CM said SC/ST Communities account for nearly 25 percent population of the State and the grant has been set aside in keeping with the population ratio.

Siddharamaiah who warned the officials against any laxity in spending the grant also called for appropriate use of the funds besides ensuring that the schemes reached the targeted beneficiaries.

Announcing that the backward H.D. Kote taluk will be given special attention, the CM said that measures will be taken for the modernisation of all canals in the taluk.

Pointing out that his Government had taken suitable measures for further promoting diary farming, Siddharamaiah said that the lower end of Kabini Dam will be developed on the lines of KRS Brindavan Gardens.

The CM also said that Rs. 200 crores has been released to the Forest Department for digging elephant trenches and Rs. 37 crores to the PWD department for development of roads across the taluk. H.D. Kote MLA Chikkamadu who presided, appealed the Chief Minister to announce a special Rs. 500 crore package for the taluk, which he said was the most backward in the district.

MP R. Dhruvanarayana in his address, appealed the Chief Minster to give special importance to the taluk so as to develop it on the lines of Chamundeshwari and Varuna assembly segments.

He also sought a special package for tribal development.

PWD Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, Co-Operation Minister H.S. Mahadevprasad, ZP President Dr. Pushpa Amarmath, MLA M.K. Somasekhar, former MLA Chikkanna, MLC R. Dharmasena, taluk Panchayat President Malleswari Thangavelu, Vice-President Balachandra, SP Abhinav Ashok Khare, Tahsildar Shivaswamy and others were present on the occasion.