Guarantee schemes pulling 1.2 crore families out of poverty, says Karnataka Governor in address to legislature

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1.2 crore families coming out of poverty line

“Due to the guarantee schemes implemented by my Government, more than 1.2 crore families are coming out of the poverty line and rising to the middle-class status. It is a global record that more than 5 crore people of the state will be promoted to middle-class status by this one decision of my government,” he said.

He also said that other governments were competing to adopt these schemes.

He also said that despite the drought situation in the state, the number of farmers’ suicides was less in the state compared to the previous year.

The Governor said “aspiration of ‘Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota’ of national poet Sri Kuvempu and all-round development of the state are the mottos” of the state government.

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The five guarantees

The Governor also detailed the achievements of the five guarantee schemes.

He said:

• Women passengers have made more than 150 crore trips under Shakti Yojane since the inception of the said scheme till date.
• Under the State Government’s ambitious “Annabhagya Yojane” along with the 5 kg food grain distributed under the National Food Security Act, an additional 5 kg food grain has been committed to be distributed, thus making it 10 kg food grain to each beneficiary.
• The “Gruha Jyoti” scheme is providing free electricity to every household in the state subject to a maximum consumption limit of 200 units per month. 1.60 crore consumers of the state are benefiting from this scheme.
• 1.17 crore women beneficiaries have been registered under the “Gruha Lakshmi” scheme and a total grant of ₹11,037 crore has been released to the said beneficiaries.
• Under “Yuvanidhi Yojane”, for which order has been passed, all graduates and diploma holders who are unemployed even after the completion of 180 days after their graduation will get a monthly allowance of ₹3,000 and ₹1,500 respectively as unemployment allowance for 2 years or until employed within 2 years.

Adding that ₹77,000 crore has come into the state as foreign investments, the Governor said Karnataka topped in GST collections.

“Up to the end of January, I am proud to state that the rate of growth in GST collections of our state stands first in the country,” he said.

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Points out non-payment of tax share

He also pointed out the Union government’s non-payment of “due share (of tax) in a rightful and justifiable manner”.

The Governor also pointed out the drought in the state.

“A large part of the state is facing severe drought conditions. Karnataka has declared drought in 223 taluks out of 240 taluks during Kharif 2023, out of which 196 taluks are categorised as severely drought-affected. The state government has released ₹324 crore to 31 districts for immediate relief measures like the availability of drinking water and fodder,” he said.

He also said the state was making all efforts to obtain the drought relief funds from the Union government and added that a compensation of ₹2,00 was provided to affected farmers.

“The State Government has submitted memorandums related to Kharif Drought Relief to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India seeking financial assistance of ₹18171.44 crore from NDRF for drought relief measures in drought-affected taluks. Till now, no amount has been released. The state government is making all necessary efforts to release relief urgently to alleviate the suffering of the people,” he said.

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To promote Kannada

The Governor said that the ’Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act-2022, framed for the holistic development of the Kannada language would be implemented shortly.

“For the benefit of the people, we have decided and made a law that 60% of the name plates should be in Kannada and have taken steps to implement it,” he said.

He said ₹34,580.38 crore has been allocated towards the comprehensive development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities in the state in the 2023-24 fiscal year and it is being implemented through adequate schemes.

“₹960 crore is allocated in 2023-24 to construct own buildings to the KREIS schools and SC/ST hostels which are functioning in rented buildings. Construction of 23 new hostel buildings and 23 KREIS Schools of Social Welfare Department has been completed,” he said.

The Governor also expressed hope that Phase 2A and Phase 2B of the Bengaluru Metro would be completed by June 2026.

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To fill 14,000 more jobs

Saying that 16,000 youth have been appointed to various government departments he added that 14,000 more posts would be filled.

He also announced a blueprint for the development of Karnataka tourism and schemes for educational institutions.

Notifying the inauguration of the Shivamogga airport, he said “Vijayapura will be completed and operational in 2024. Hassan and Raichur airport construction works will be completed within the stipulated time.”

The Governor also announced the expansion of some medical facilities in the state.

“Steps have been taken to setup Jayadeva Institute’s Regional Heart Disease Center in Hubli. Actions have been taken to set up Hub & Spoke model at BMCRI, MMCRI, KIMS Hubli, VIMS Bellary, GIMS Gulbarga and RIMS Raichur with Nimhans support,” he said.

He said the state government was set to establish 100 new Village Courts in the state as part of the ambition to bring justice to the doorsteps of the rural people to ensure the maintenance of the legal system based on equal opportunity for access to justice by the state.