Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
K
arnataka is the first state to introduce the concept of Universal Basic Income through five guarantee schemes to promote economic dynamism.Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted that this is Karnataka model development.
He was replying to the debate on the budget for 2023-24 in the Legislative Assembly today.Karnataka is the first state in the country to provide a large amount through guarantee programs, he said.
The opposition party had said that we cannot implement guarantee schemes.But 3 projects have already been implemented.Registration for Griha Lakshmi Yojana has started.He said that the Yuvanidhi scheme is expected to start from the month of December.
Funds have been allocated in the budget for all these projects.Fund mobilization is also detailed in the budget.
A total of Rs 52,068 crore is required for these programs annually.1.30 crore families will be benefitted from these guarantee schemes.
Each family will get approximately 4 to 5 thousand rupees per month.That means 48,000- 60000 rupees per annum.
He said that Karnataka is the first state in the history of the country to distribute such a large amount to people regardless of caste and religion.He explained that this year we have earmarked 35,410 crores for 5 guarantees.
He said that these schemes have been implemented with the aim of improving the lives of people who are reeling from problems like price hike,fuel price hike, unemployment etc.
Belief in Ambedkar’s principle of social democracy
As Dr. BR Ambedkar had said,we believe that importance should be given to social governance.And we are committed to this.While preparing the budget, we have kept the aspirations of Ambedkar,Gandhi, Buddha,Kuvempu and Narayan Guru in mind.
The last person of the state should live a satisfied life. Everyone should participate in democracy.Its fruits should be shared equally by all the Chief Minister said.
Karnataka Model
We have always lived up to our words.We have fulfilled 158 out of 165 promises.By the end of our tenure we had taken a total of debt of 1 lakh 16 thousand crore rupees which amounted to a total of the 2,45,000 crore of debt at the end of March 2018.
It has a debt of Rs.5,20,000 crore by 2023.Our Government is pro-poor.We have worked to fill the pockets of people who are suffering due to price rise and unemployment.
Registration process for Grihalakshmi Yojana has started.32 thousand crores will be spent per annum. Karnataka is the only state that is spending huge amount on a single project.
We have earmarked 17500 crores for this purpose this year.He said that Rs.10,125 crore has been earmarked for food security-Anna Bhagya,Rs.13,000 crore for Griha Jyoti and Rs 2,800 crore for Shakthi schemes..
Our government believes in inclusive development:
In the 2022-23 the budget volumee was 2,65,720 crores, our government’s budget is 3,27,747 crores, which is 62,027 thousand crores more than the earlier budget.
Growth Rate is about 22%. We used to give interest-free loans up to 3 lakh to farmers.Now the amount has been increased up to 5 lakhs.
There was 3% interest up to 10 lakhs, now it has been increased to 15 lakhs.He explained that eggs are being given to school students 2 days a week including 9th and 10th class students.
We have built 14,54,663 houses in 5 years.We have built 6 lakh more houses than the previous government.We had developed 14,169 highways during our government.He said that his government has built only 8037 km.
After SCSP/TSP law was introduced,our government has spent 88530 crores in 5 years.Our’s is a pro-poor government.Our budget size was 202297 crores in 2018-19.
At that time we had reserved 21691.5 SCSTs.More grants have been given to education,social welfare, agriculture,electricity,Bangalore development.we have not reduced the allocation to the social and economic sector.
Irrigation,housing,welfare have been emphasized for the development of Karnataka.He said that our government believes in the mission of inclusive development
After coming to power in the year 2023-24,our party presented the government’s budget for this financial year,it is our duty to present a budget that includes the government’s policy positions and manifesto promises to respond to the aspirations of the people.
62 people from the ruling and opposition parties have spoken on the budget. Participated in the discussion for about 12 hours and 52 minutes.
He said that he welcomed both criticism and appreciation and thanked the opposition parties for participating in the discussion and expressing their views.
