Karnataka budget will be pro-people, focus on welfare schemes, announces CM Bommai

“During the next Cabinet meeting, we will decide the dates for the joint session of Karnataka legislature and for the budget session. Budget is likely to be presented on 17 February. All the preparations for it has begun,” the chief minister said.

Making them self-reliant

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said that the state’s revenue collection for the third quarter has crossed its target and that he has given directions regarding the targets for the fourth quarter.

“In this background, I have decided to put forth a pro-people budget this time. We are thinking about placing more stress on public welfare schemes. More benefits should be given to working classes, women, youth, weaker or lower sections of the society, like farmers, labourers among others,” he added.

Highlighting the Swami Vivekananda Yuvashakti Yojane, under which five lakh people will be given ₹1 lakh subsidy for self-employment, along with support like bank tie-ups and formulation of a programme, Bommai said, “It will be an end-to-end approach from production to market support to make them self-reliant so that they contribute to the growth of Karnataka.”

"ಕೈಗಾರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ನೀಡುವ ಸಲುವಾಗಿ ನೂತನ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ನೀತಿಯನ್ನು ಜಾರಿಗೆ ತಂದಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಶೇ.80 ರಷ್ಟು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ಉದ್ಯೋಗ ದೊರೆಯಬೇಕೆಂಬುದು ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಸಂಕಲ್ಪವಾಗಿದೆ.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/Wu6RWl1pbt

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) January 6, 2023

Further noting that Sthree Samarthya Yojana will also be launched this month, he explained that the scheme is aimed at empowering five lakh women towards self-employment.

“Under this, two ‘Sthree Shakti’ groups in every village will be given projects of up to ₹5 lakh and access to the market to make them self-reliant. An order has already been issued and it will be implemented soon,” Bommai said.

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For the people

Responding to a question, the chief minister said that as the elections are approaching, “it will be an election budget”.

“It will be pro-people budget. There are a lot of programmes in mind like the ones implemented in Assam and Gujarat, but announcing them is different from implementing them on ground. They have to be looked into,” he said.

Bommai also said that a special programme is being planned for women-led households to support women in running their homes and to support their lives.

“Household financial support will be given for women based on their needs and spending to run the family. It may be ₹1,000, 2,000 or 3,000. The programme will be planned and announced,” he said.

Shots at the Opposition 

Hitting out at Congress’s promise to provide 200 units of free power a month in the state upon coming to power, Bommai accused the party of pushing Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) in the state to the brink of collapse with the burden of debt, while in power in the past.

“Our government revived it by infusing almost about ₹21,000 crore into the power sector to keep ESCOMs alive. Now, desperate not to lose, they are announcing such things,” he said, adding that over ₹9,000 crore is required to keep up their promise.

“They (Congress) will not come to power, they can’t do it. Hence, they are making such promises,” retorted Bommai.

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