From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru Jun 29: The extended budget session of the Karnataka Legislature will be held in Bengaluru from July 12 to 26.
The session is expected to discuss budgetary proposals department-wise. The vote on account was passed in the budget session held in March to enable the government to incur expenses for first four months of the 2019-20.
The extended budget session would pass all the budgetary proposals of the government for 2019-20.
In the wake of a protest by Valmiki community members demanding a hike in quota in government jobs and education from 3.3% to 7.5%, a State Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has asked chief secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar to work out modalities for increasing the quota.
The state cabinet discussed various options such as appointment of an expert committee or a commission to study the issue of reservation.
The chief secretary has been asked to study the modalities and submit a report to the next cabinet meeting, RDPR minister Krishna Byre Gowda said while briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting in Vidhana Soudha here on Friday.
The centre has been providing 7.5% quota for STs in jobs in central undertakings and educational admissions.
Upgrade of maternity hospitals
Under the National Health Mission, decided to upgrade maternity hospitals in Pavagada, Raichur, Davanagere and Ballari. It also decided to release a sum of Rs 422.75 crore for modernization of Hemavathi right bank canal in Hassan district.
The state and central governments would equally share the insurance premium of farmers for crops sown in kharif and rabi seasons in 2019-20. The cost incurred by the State was Rs 546 crore.
Already tenders have been called for selection of insurance firms cluster-wise. There are 10 clusters in the State. Farmers would pay 1.5% to 2% of the premium for a majority of crops and 5% of the premium for commercial crops.
Cloud seeding
The State government has slightly modified its location of cloud-seeding operations which is expected to be commenced from second week of July.
It has shifted the cloud seeding from Bengaluru to Mysuru, citing technical reasons.
Earlier, the government had planned to carry out cloud seeding from Bengaluru and Hubballi following shortfall in rains in the current monsoon.