Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday paid tributes to martyrs and acknowledged the self-less and supreme sacrifice made by scores of freedom fighters who freed the nation from the shackles of slavery.
Speaking at 71st Independence Day celebrations organized at Field Marshal Manek Shaw Parade Grounds here, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said last week 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement was observed. He said that it is our duty to remember with utmost gratitude all those who laid their lives and suffered immensely during the Quit India Movement.
“It is our patriotic duty to remember with utmost gratitude all those who laid their lives and suffered immensely during that movement. Every day we are having a peaceful night’s sleep in the safe confines of our homes. The credit for this peaceful life should entirely go to our ever vigilant and courageous soldiers guarding our frontiers. Let’s pay our respectful homage to those soldiers, who laid down their lives fighting the enemy as well as salute those, including the uniformed forces who continue to fight the evil forces threatening to undermine the unity and integrity of our nation as well as its internal security,’’ he said.
The chief minister said the state government’s sympathy is not just lip sympathy for the welfare of soldiers. “We always pay our gratitude from our heart and through our actions. In view of this, we have decided to provide Government job for one dependent of the soldiers from Karnataka, who are martyred or permanently disabled in war or war-like situation.
Communalism and caste
The chief minister said the communal and cast forces, joined by fascist forces, have been raising their ugly heads and this trend would be dangerous development about which all right thinking citizens are concerned.
“Religion is a personal matter. It is sacrilegious to derive political benefit by sowing the seeds of hatred amongst persons, communities and religious sects. Today, the time has come to pledge ourselves to the task of annihilating those divisive forces actively promoting these kinds of practices, which are nothing but anti-national,’’ he said.
Ideals of Kayaka and Dasoha
The chief minister said the ideals of Kayaka and Dasoha, propounded by Basavanna have greatly influenced our style of governance.
“It is befitting that our Government made it mandatory to display the portrait of Basavanna in all the Government Offices in the State. This decision demonstrates the singular commitment of our Government for building a society comprising Anna, Jnana and Seva as dreamt by Basavanna,’’ he said.
Imposition of other language
The chief minister said that every State has its own official language and our constitution recognizes the primacy of that language in the State to the exclusion of other languages. “Hence, imposition of any other language in a State is unconstitutional and it is against the spirit of formation of states on linguistic basis. The concept of co-operative federalism mandates that while local language’s primacy cannot be compromised, opportunities could be given to learn other languages too,’’ he said.
Hunger-free Karnataka
The chief minister said the hunger-free Karnataka was the motto of Congress government on the very day it came to power. “Through the much-acclaimed Anna Bhagya Yojana, about four crore people in the State are being provided with seven kilo grams of rice every month, free of cost, so that, each of them has two meals, daily. Under this scheme, tur dal is also being provided at subsidized rates. The salutary effect of the scheme is that the wages, which was hither to spent on rice can now be used for other purposes for improving their standards of living,’’ he said.
He said the efficacy of Anna Bhagya Yojana is evident by the fact that despite the State reeling under severe drought for the last three consecutive years, no deaths occurred due to hunger and no migration of labour and none went to bed without food.
Mathru Poorna Yojana
He said the government has implemented Mathru Poorna Yojana to provide mid-day meals to lactating mothers and pregnant women. “The scheme would be extended to all Anganwadis from October 2 this year to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. About 12 lakh persons are expected to avail the benefit under this scheme,’’ he said.
Indira Canteens
The chief minister said that he was happy to announce that from Wednesday to feed people from the labour class and poor migrants to the city of Bengaluru, Indira Canteens are being opened in all the 198 wards of the city. “In the first phase, in 101 wards, canteens are proposed to be started,’’ he said.
Hostels for students
The chief minister said that as many as 23 new hostels are proposed to be started in the Government Polytechnics to improve the enrollment of girls in technical education. “An exclusive progrmme called Jnana Nagara is being enunciated to upgrade higher education in the State to international standards. A New University is being established in Raichur to promote and encourage higher education in Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Colleges in the districts of Raichur and Yadgir would be brought under the purview of this University,’’ he said.
Interest-free loans
The chief minister said that for the first time in the country, the state government has provided loan up to Rs 3 lakh free of interest, loans up to Rs 10 lakh are being distributed at just 3 per cent interest. “In the last four years we have not only distributed loan to the tune of Rs 50,010 crore benefiting 4,55,457 farmers, but also, waived loans amounting to Rs 2359 crore of about 10.70 lakh farmers,’’ he said.
Sports
The chief minister said that an amount of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked this year to provide financial and other necessary support to most talented 1000 young sportspersons under the Karnataka Sahasra Keeda Prathibha Yojana.
“Under Yuva Chaitanya Programme 2000 Sports Associations would be provided with sports equipment worth Rs one lakh each. Two Sports Science Centres, each at a cost of Rs 2 crore are being established. Fitness Centre-cum-Gyms of international standards are being set up, each at a cost of Rs 2 crore in Belagavi, Mysuru, Bengaluru and Udupi,’’ he said.
Scholarships
The chief minister said the Karnataka is the only state in the entire country in which all the eligible students belonging to the minorities are being given scholarships. “Students, belonging to the minority communities, benefitting from this has increased from 5.5 lakh to 13.18 lakh. This is truly a remarkable achievement,’’ he said.
The chief minister said the government proposes to start 200 Maulana Azad Model schools to bring back students of minority communities, who have left schools. “These model schools would be established in location of Government Urdu Schools, which have been already closed,’’ he said.
Yettinahole project
The chief minister said the revised administrative approval has been accorded by the Government for the detailed project report for Yettinahole project amounting to Rs 12,912.36 Crore.
“I am happy to announce that approval has been given to the revised estimate amounting to Rs 12,340 crore of the Upper Bhadra Project under which micro irrigation method would be adopted to irrigate about 5,57,248 acres in the districts of Chikkamagaluru, Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Davanagere as well as filling 367 minor irrigation tanks and using 29.9 TMC water. A new corporation would be set up for speedy implementatation of both Yettinahole Project and Upper Bhadra Project,’’ he said.
Toilets in rural areas
He said the state government has been striving hard to attain open defecation-free status for Karnataka and usher-in a cleanliness revolution. “During the last four years, the percentage of household having toilets has gone up from 35 to 70. Under Shouchalayakkagi Samara 28 lakh toilets have been constructed. We aim to attain open defecation-free status by the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi,’’ he said.
Industrial growth
The chief minister said the state has always been in the forefront of industrial sector by attracting an investment of Rs 1,54,173 crore during January to December 2016, Karnataka has occupied the top most position in the country. “Projects worth Rs 17,293 crore have been implemented creating job opportunities for almost 1.6 lakh people. Besides, 1492 projects worth Rs 2.8 lakh crore investment are in the pipeline. During the last four years, 1.16 lakh small and small scale and micro industrial units with Rs 22,175 crore of investment have been registered and 10.3 lakh jobs have been created. Further the new Textile Policy has resulted in an investment of Rs 1918 Crore and jobs for about one lakh people,’’ he said.
Infrastructure in Bengaluru
He said that apart from being the IT and Startup capital of India, Bengaluru has emerged as the most dynamic city in the world and the city needs world class infrastructure to match its status as a knowledge and innovation hub.
“In the last four years, we have made consistent efforts to build infrastructure of the city and I am glad to say that the results are showing. We have recently dedicated 42.3 kms of first phase of Metro to the nation. The works of 72 kms of Metro Phase-II is proceeding on a brisk pace and it will be completed by the year 2020.18 kms of Phase II A is at tendering stage and Phase II B to connect Metro to the Airport has received in principle clearance. We are now planning a phase 3 of Metro which is likely to add another 92 kms to the metro line. Together with all the phases, Bengaluru will have a total metro line of 250 kms by 2022,’’ he said.
