Udupi: State Govt Not Implementing Centre's Project Efficiently: Kharge

Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Nov 27: Union minister for labour Mallikarjun Kharge was in the district on Saturday November 26 to distribute Manipal Arogya cards to beneficiaries.

The programme was held under the auspices of G Shankar family trust, Mogaveera Yuva Sanghatane in collaboration with Manipal University.

Speaking on the occasion, Kharge said that the the central government's Arogya Swastha Bheema Yojana will be extended to other labourers as well.

He said that the Arogya project has been undertaken with 75 percent of the expenses being borne by the centre and 25 percent by the state government.

"Beneficieries get Rs 30,000 each," he added.

Lamenting that the state government has been lagging behind in executing this project, he said, "Out of the 7 crore people in 30 districts, as many as 1.25 crore are beneficiaries under this scheme. But sadly, only 1.5 lac people have been benefited, thanks to the laxity on the part of the state government."

Kharge also said that the centre has alloted Rs 4000 crore under the labour ministry across the nation to undertake various works and projects.

MLA Raghupati Bhat presided over the programme.

Manipal KMC dean Dr Sripathi Rao, DC Dr Reju, Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon, MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary, ZP president Shankar Poojary, Yashpal Suvarna, leaders Suresh R Kanchan, Anand C Kunder, Keshava Kunder, Thimma Marakala, Sanjeeva M and Satish Nayak present.

G Shankar delivered the keynote address and appealed to Kharge to extend the Arogya project beyond the fisheries community.

As many as 10,000 families were given Manipal arogya cards.

'Goonda Raj in Bellary'

Earlier, Kharge addressed the media and said that 'goonda raj' was prevailing in Bellary district because of the BJP. The BJP has at last realized this fact, and that the chief minister had himself admitted it, he added, stating that when Congress raised the issue BJP had not taken it seriously.

He expressed confidence that the people of Bellary would teach BJP a lesson and bring victory for Congress.

He also took a jibe on Sriramulu and said that the Congress did not need anybody's help to defeat him. He said this with reference to Sriramulu's allegations that Congress and BJP had conspired to defeat him in Bellary.

"There is no question of compromise with any party. The Congress has its own principles and values, and does not need to join hands with anybody," he said.