Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (NP/JD)

Udupi, Feb 16: The 2024 budget of chief minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of Karnataka has been a not so pro budget for the Udupi district. The 2024 budget has provided only a handful of projects specific to Udupi district and some major projects to fisheries of Coastal Karnataka having Udupi district its share. The much-needed demand of coastal fishermen for a sea ambulance has been granted at a budget of Rs 7 crores. Udupi district hospital will be getting a Digital Mammography machine, state-of-the-art Critical Care Block at the Udupi district hospital. Additionally an automated driving test track and the completion of ongoing work of the science centre has been promised.

Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar thanked the chief minister saying this is a pro-development budget. Lakshmi Hebbalkar, minister of women and child development, empowerment of persons with disabilities and senior citizens thanked the chief minister saying that this is a budget beneficial to all sections. Overall, she praised this as a very balanced and pro-development budget. As much as Rs 86,423 crores have been provided for women targeted projects in 2024-25 and Rs 54,617 crore has been provided in the budget for child-targeted projects. The state government's ambitious project Grulahakshmi has received Rs 28,608 crore this year. She said that this scheme has provided an opportunity for women to engage in income generating activities along with family management. An amount of Rs 90 Crore for 75,938 phones are being provided, which will facilitate activities carried out through Anganwadis, Rs 10 crore for organizing training workshops for 20,000 Anganwadi workers and helpers for capacity building in early childhood education and care. “My home district Belgaum and Udupi districts which I am in charge of have been given more grants in this budget,” the Minister said adding that she would congratulate the chief minister for this.

Yashpal Suvarna, MLA, Udupi said that Siddaramaiah presented a blind budget for coastal districts. He completely ignored the coastal districts and his policy has always been ignoring the coastal districts. No announcement was made about the fulfillment of any demands of the people, including the development project of fishing harbors in Udupi district, government medical college ,job creation for young people ,increase in government bus service in rural areas.the state government has not informed the fisherman that 3000 crore were granted by the prime minister fisheries scheme."

V Sunil Kumar, MLA Karkala said that the budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is the worst budget the state has seen in recent years and does not support the development of any district of the state including the coastal region. “The entire budget is full of lies and this is a reflection of the stumbling economy of the state. Siddaramaiah, who had announced that he would make provision in the budget for the establishment of Banta Development Corporation, has given his hand. Brahmarshi Narayana Guru Development Corporation has not given a grant of even Re 1. Irrigation projects including western channel have not been funded. Mangalure-Bengalure Corridor is good to hear. But there is no mention of its nature and grant. Overall this is a bogus budget,” he opined.

Gurme Suresh Shetty, MLA Kaup, in a press statement, said, "This is a boring budget. This is a budget that is against the expectations of the people. Equal distribution of wealth is a mirage under the Siddaramaiah government. This budget is prepared to woo the minorities. Those who argued against the central government that my tax is my right have not returned the share of Udupi district tax to our district in proper order. Udupi district has not been given any kind of incentive regarding the tourism sector. Siddaramaiah has imposed a tax on the people of the state to cover the losses they are suffering from the guarantee schemes. Everything is rising in this government. It is not helpful in any way for the life of common people."

Kishore Kumar, BJP district president said this budget is not a development budget but a spending budget. “The 15th budget presented by Siddaramaiah is like borrowing and eating ghee so that he will satisfy everyone keeping in view the Lok Sabha elections. They have taken a loan of Rs 1,05,000 crores and distributed Rs 52,000 crores to guarantees and tried to satisfy the remaining amount by distributing it to their eight banks. He has presented a hollow budget without giving any grant to the MLAs. The people of the state will have to feel the consequences of this in the coming days. There is no development plan for Udupi district.”

Ramesh Kanchan, president of Udupi Block Congress expressed his joy saying that the five guarantee schemes and the new scheme implemented today on the budget day will help many people of Karnataka. The state government's decision to purchase the first sea ambulance at the cost of Rs 7 crore and the increased compensation amount will help the fishermen of the state, he opined. He also said that Anganwadi workers will be given training and workshops to operate the technology and also decided to buy 75,938 smart phones at the cost of Rs 90 crore. “The new scheme ‘Anna-Suvidha’ where the food grains will be delivered to people of above 80 years old at their door steps. This budget has been earmarked for social welfare, public utility and rural development. The government has declared Basavanna as a cultural hero. The government has proposed to make the use of Kannada 60% mandatory, mentioning the development of Kannada. He further said that the government has taken important decisions for the welfare of journalists by providing them various schemes and free passes to rural journalists. Government to give free water and electricity to government schools and colleges," he said.

Bhaskar Rao, Udupi district Congress spokesperson commenting on the 15th Budget of Siddaramaiah stated, "Several projects for the self-reliant life of rural women and several projects for the development of Bengaluru solid waste unit has been implemented. Upgradation of hospitals ? Health? Agriculture? Education? Religious sectors will always be the main purpose. The main objective of this budget is equal share for all classes? priority for infrastructure? working class hands and Guarantees set by the government apart from funds for development."

"Chief minister Siddaramaiah has fulfilled the long-time demand of fishermen by introducing an sea ambulance for fishing for the first time," said Udupi District Fishermen's Congress vice president Naveen Salian. The chief minister has given promising projects to the fishing community in the budget with the special care of fisheries minister Mankala Vaidya. For the all-round development of the fisheries sector, various major projects of Rs 3,000 crore will be implemented in the coming years. Under the Matsya Asha Kirana Yojana, the state's share of the compensation amount given to coastal fishermen during the fishing ban has been increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000. An amount of Rs 20 crores in collaboration with NABARD to upgrade 16 fish production centres in the state is reserved and Rs 6 crores to carry out fisheries in the mine-affected areas of Chitradurga, Holalkere and Hosadurga taluks. It has been mentioned in the budget that the expenditure will be incurred and this is the guarantee budget for the all-round progress of Karnataka" Naveen Salian opined.