Bangalore: Session in Belgaum from Dec 5, Extra Uniform Set for Students
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 6: Deciding to hold the winter session of the Karnataka legislature in the newly built Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum from December 5 to 13, which is seen as a strategy from the ruling BJP to prevent the supporters of chief minister B S Yeddyurappa from attending the launch of the new regional party of the Lingayat strongman at Haveri on December 10, the Jagadish Shettar regime also sought to woo the poorer sections of the people by announcing that a second set of school uniforms would be distributed free of cost to all students studying in all Government and aided schools from Classes I to VIII during the current academic year.

Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the State Cabinet presided over by the Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, which was also held in the afternoon ahead of the lunch hosted by Yeddyurappa to the MLAs, MLCs, MPs and Ministers supporting him at his residence, State Primary and Secondary Education Minister Visveshwara Hegde Kageri said the decision to distribute the second set of uniforms to all school children studying in government and aided schools throughout the State was taken on account of the implementation of the Right to Education Act in the State.

The State Government is implementing the Right to Education Act from the current academic year of 2012-13, the minister said pointing out that a total of 46.44 lakh students would benefit from the decision taken by the State cabinet.

Under the Right to Education Act, the minister said the Centre has directed State Government to distribute uniforms to only students belong to other backward classes, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. But the State Government has decided to distribute uniforms to all schoolchildren.

Of the total of 46.44 lakh students, he said barely 8.90 lakh students belong to the general category and therefore the Government did not want to leave out these students.

The total estimated cost on account of the State Cabinet’s decision, the minister said, was Rs 106.24 crore, of which the Centre would contribute Rs 88.30 crore while the State would bear the balance amount.
 

Rs 1000 a Month Extra Pay for Daily Wage Staff
 
Kageri also announced that the State Cabinet has decided to grant an additional payment of Rs 1000 a month to all daily wage employees in various government owned corporations and boards from April 1, 2012, which will benefit 23,000 employees.

However, the proposal for regularisation of services of daily wage employees was still under the consideration of the Government, he said.

As a prelude to the Jagadish Shettar regime’s decision to hold the first joint session in the newly built Suvarna Soudha building, which was recently declared open by President Pranab Kumar Mukherjee, the State Cabinet also decided to create the new taluk of Kittur in Belgaum district.
 

Kittur Becomes Taluk No 177
 
With the decision to create Kittur taluk, the total number of taluks in Karnataka would go up to 177, Kageri said pointing out that the creation of Kittur taluk was a promise made by the Chief Minister during the Kittur Utsav held recently.

Kittur, the erstwhile princely state of Rani Chennamma, was part of Bailhongal taluk so far.
 

Sarvothama Awards to Govt Employees
 
Kageri also announced that the State Cabinet has decided to institute Sarvothama Awards for honouring government employees for their best service to the society.

A total of 38 State and six district-level awards would be given to employees.

The state level award carries cash award of Rs 40,000 and while the district level award comprised cash award of Rs 20,000.

The awards would be given on the Republic Day, he said pointing out that IAS and KAS officers would not be eligible for the awards.
 

Hyderabad-Karnataka Region’s Development
 
The State Cabinet authorised Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to draft the State Government’s opinion on granting a special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, under a new article 371 (J), Kageri said.

The Centre has sought State government’s view on the special status to the region. The Centre has proposed to give powers to the Governor for taking up development works in the region.

The Cabinet has decided to retain the State government’s authority with regard to education, jobs, development in the region.

Keeping the State’s interests in mind, the minister said the State Cabinet decided to keep education, jobs and development works under the jurisdiction of the State government.

The Centre has introduced a Bill in parliament to amend the Constitution to provide the special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region.

The government had studied the pros and cons of the Governor’s role in taking up development works in the other regions where the Centre has given special status, he said.
 

State to Formulate Solar Policy
 
The State Cabinet also discussed the necessity of formulation of a consolidated solar policy to tap solar power in the State. The policy would be formulated by the Energy Department in consultation with Industry, Infrastructure, Water Resources and other departments, the minister said pointing out that there was no uniform policy for promoting solar energy projects.

The State Cabinet authorised the Industries Department to formulate guidelines for coming out with an one-time settlement of pending dues to the government by 777 small units.

The government has given loans to units under the Mysore State Aid to Industries Act, 1950, a few decades ago. The pending principal amount from these units was Rs 56.85 lakh while the interest amount was Rs. 1.93 crore, Kageri said.

A decision was taken to withdraw cases registered against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists in Shimoga and Tumkur police stations. Cases were registered against ABVP activists during their agitations.

A case registered against B V Ramaswamy at Kunigal police station would also be withdrawn. The case was with regard to Ramaswamy’s agitation demanding water supply to Nelamangala town. Similarly, a case registered against Suresh Babu, JD-S MLA, in Huliyurdurga police station in Tumkur district.