The Cabinet will recommend to the Union government to insert Article 341 (3) to the Constitution, enabling states to provide internal reservation among SCs.
Published Feb 16, 2024 | 6:17 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 16, 2024 | 6:17 PM
CM Siddaramaiah presented the state budget for 2024-25 on 16 February. (Supplied)
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, presenting the state Budget on Friday, 16 February, said that his government is committed to a scientific and constitutional classification of reservation for Scheduled Castes, and has made a recommendation to the Union government in this regard.
The Cabinet had last month decided to recommend to the Union government to insert Article 341 (3) to the Constitution, which will enable states to provide internal reservation among Scheduled Castes.
“Our government is committed to a scientific and constitutional classification of reservation for Scheduled Castes. In this respect, a recommendation has been made to the Union Government to insert clause (3) under Article 341,” he said.
The move is seen as significant ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The Chief Minister also announced several welfare schemes and measures in the budget for various sections of society, including a gratuity facility for Anganwadi workers and helpers, an increase in monthly pension under the “Mythri” scheme for gender minorities from ₹800 to ₹1,200.
#KarnatakaBudget2024: CM @siddaramaiah increases monthly pension of gender minorities from Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 under Mythri Scheme. pic.twitter.com/6zeqrvF8Hz
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) February 16, 2024
“We will also take steps for simplifying the process of identification and issuing identity cards,” he added.
For welfare of former “devadasis”, the monthly allowance will be raised from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000, while a special package will be provided through the Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation.
Financial assistance for construction of houses will be given through Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation, and detailed survey on their socio-economic status will be conducted to design appropriate welfare interventions.
Siddaramaiah said that the food allowance for students of government pre-matric and post-matric hostels, Ashram schools and residential schools under Social Welfare, Scheduled Tribes, Backward classes and Minorities Welfare Departments will be increased by ₹100 per month for each student.
A “Nirashritara Parihara Kendra” (destitute shelter) will be set up in East Bengaluru in view of the rapid growth of the city and rising number of destitutes, he said, adding that this would be constructed at a cost of ₹10 crore and have a capacity to house 500 persons.
A corpus fund of ₹35 crore will be created to provide financial assistance for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes patients who are suffering from rare diseases and are in need of expensive medical treatment. The interest accrued under this fund will be provided to patients as per treatment requirements, the Chief Minister said.
A stipend of ₹15,000 will be provided to 200 engineering graduates enrolled in 6-to-12 months’ vocational training courses such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Indian Institute of Science, IITs or NITs.
Up-skilling in drone-based photography and videography has immense potential for employment in social-media, the Chief Minister said. Therefore, drone training will be imparted to 5,000 youngsters belonging to Scheduled Tribes who are already content creators on social media.
A monthly stipend of ₹25,000 will be given to 100 research students belonging to the Scheduled Tribes who are pursuing postdoctoral fellowship and have not received any fellowship.
The Karnataka Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Commission will be formed to assess the socio-economic status of these communities.
A new social security scheme “Anna-Suvidha”, a home delivery app for the free delivery of food grains (PDS) to the doorstep of senior citizens above 80 years old, will be launched, Siddaramaiah said.
Further, 50 women-run cafes named “Cafe Sanjeevini” will be launched across the state during this year at a cost of ₹7.50 crore. These canteens will cater to the demand and supply gap in rural areas for healthy, hygienic and affordable cooked food in traditional local cuisine.
In collaboration with the Coffee Board, 1 lakh women members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) will be trained as coffee entrepreneurs. Besides, 2,500 coffee kiosks managed exclusively by SHG women will be set up at a cost of ₹25 crore.
Affordable and secure transit hostels will be set up for students and working women for staying overnight in cities, the Chief Minister said. These lodges will be managed in partnership with women’s self-help groups and urban local bodies (ULBs). The project will be launched in five cities including Bengaluru in the first phase, at a cost of Rs two crore, the Chief Minister added.
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