Bengaluru, Oct 2 (IANS): Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday addressed the people of the state through radio to mark Mahatma Gandhi's 146th birth anniversary.

The chief minister shared his thoughts with the people in the state in a Kannada speech broadcast through the local All India Radio station, an official told IANS here.

Exhorting the people to follow the Mahatma's teachings, Siddaramaiah said best birthday gift to the father of the nation would be to ensure education for all, cleanliness, community integration and public health.

"Gandhiji was instrumental in pioneering gram swaraj for self-reliance and empowering people, especially women in urban and rural areas across the country," he said.

Stressing the service rendered by his government for people's welfare since the Congress came to power two years ago, the chief minister said Karnataka was the first state in the country to implement the panchayat raj system and gram vikas (village development) schemes.

"Following in the footsteps of Gandhiji, we have implemented many of his schemes including local administration at the grassroot level to become self-reliant," he said.