Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
With IANS Inputs

Updated

Bengaluru, Mar 15: Ahead of the state assembly elections in early 2018, the Congress government in Karnataka in its Budget for fiscal 2017-18 on Wednesday doled out goodies, freebies and sops to students, urban and rural poor and farmers.

Presenting a populist Budget in the state legislative assembly here, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told the lawmakers that free laptops would be given to 1.5 lac students joining engineering, medical, polytechnic and degree colleges across the state in the new academic year.

"We propose to open 'Our (Namma) Canteens' in 198 civic wards across Bengaluru to serve breakfast at Rs 5 and lunch and dinner at Rs 10 each to the common man," said Siddaramaiah in his two-hour-long Budget speech in Kannada.

With the state reeling under drought over the last two years, the government has waived interest amounting to Rs 125 crore on agricultural loans of 74,525 farmers.

"We have waived Rs 2,359 crore towards crop loans availed by 10.7 lac farmers from cooperative societies since 2013-14 as against Rs 940 crore waiver given to four lac farmers from July 1, 2011, to July 25, 2012, by the previous (the BJP) government," recalled the Chief Minister.

"The state government has also paid Rs 45 crore interest subsidy on behalf of two-lac farmers during fiscal 2015-16. Instalment payments for short-term and long-term loans have been extended till March 31 from September 30, 2015," said the Chief Minister.

To mitigate the woes of 25 lac drought-hit farmers, the Budget has proposed to disburse Rs 13,500 crore for crop loans up to Rs 3 lac at zero per cent and Rs 10 lac at 3 per cent interest rate per annum.

"Similarly, loans to women self-help groups will be disbursed at zero per cent rate of interest as against 4 per cent per annum through cooperative societies," said Siddaramaiah, presenting his 12th Budget as the state's Finance Minster and fourth as the Chief Minister since May 2013.

The Budget has earmarked Rs 600 crore in FY 2018 to provide protective irrigation to crops during the critical stages to combat drought and obtain higher income.

"The Karnataka Raitha Suraksha Pradhana Manthri Fasal Bima Yojana will spend Rs 845 crore in 2017-18 to minimise the drought impact in 31.5 lac hectares across the state," said Siddaramiah.

To encourage rural youths to take to farming and use farm machinery, 174 rural farm machinery repair/service centres will be opened in each local body.

"Drip irrigation facility will be provided to 35,000 farmers with 90 per cent subsidy at a cost of Rs 233 crore. To mitigate water scarcity to crops due to drought, 50 per cent subsidy (Rs 50,000) will be provided to 10 farmers per taluk to buy water tankers," added Siddaramaiah.

Highlights

• Installation of digital display boards in KSRTC bus stations and other public places of all taluks at a cost of Rs 17 crore
• Free bus pass to journalists in district headquarters for travel in city transport buses within the district 
• 'E- Vidhana Mandala' to be implemented at a cost of Rs 60.84 crore, to bring in paperless legislative proceedings. Allocation of Rs 20 crore for initial activities
• One-time incentive of Rs 2 lac to students of backward class communities securing admission in IIM, IIT, IISc and other reputed national education institutions
• Rs 800 crore action plan for basic infrastructure facilities in the areas predominantly inhabited by the
  minorities.
• 200 Moulana Azad Model Schools to be set up in next 2 years in place of closed government Urdu schools to bring back school dropouts.
• Rs 175 crore for the development of Christian community; compound wall and basic infrastructure
  for the Christian graveyards along with other ongoing schemes
• Waiver of Rs 46 crore loan availed by SC/ST entrepreneurs under seed money capital scheme
• Pay commission to be set up for benefit of state government employees
• Construction of 3-D mini planetarium at Madikeri and Gadag at an estimated cost of Rs 5.75 crore each
• Free Wi-fi facility in all gram panchayats
• 'Yuva Yuga' to be launched to impart skills to 1,10,000 persons in IT, electronics, animation and other sectors.
• Rs 150 crore to BBMP for railway overbridge and underbridge construction for smooth traffic movement
• Rs 42 crore granted for the development of lakes in Bengaluru
• De-salination plant to be set up in Mangaluru
• To reduce congestion in Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, development of second runway is in progress. Development of 2nd terminal to be taken up. 
• Development of 2.5 km road on Mangaluru-Athradi state highway connecting Mangalore International Airport at a Rs 50 crore 
• Regional and Higher Children Health Institute to be set up in Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru at a cost of Rs 3 crore
• Enhancement of old age pension being given to the persons between 60 to 64 years age, to Rs 500.
• Formation of District Task Force Rs 10 crore , to survey all the lakes of the state
• ‘Less Paper Office’ to be extended to all the offices of revenue department in the next 2 years at Rs 10 crore
• Udupi to get swimming academy
• Reservation for Kannadigas in private sector
• Bicycle rental facility for environment-friendly travel in Bengaluru
• Loan limits for women entrepreneurs increased from Rs 50 lac to Rs 2 crore at 4% interest
• Rs 14,061 crore allocated for rural development
• Farmers in state to get farm loan up to Rs 3 lac with zero interest rate
• 3,250 new buses under KSRTC. Bengaluru city to get 150 electric buses
• Rs 4,400 crore for higher education department, Rs 2,099 crore for minor irrigation, Rs 1,732 for forest and ecology, Rs 3,154 crore for backward classes welfare, Rs 337 crore for fisheries, Rs 2004 for medical education, Rs 6,363 for social welfare, Rs 4,708 crore for housing, Rs 2,245 crore for animal husbandry
• Rs 285 crore for sports and youth services, Rs 299 crore for IT-BT, Rs 731 crore for law and justice departments
• Under new policy, mandatory screening of Kannada and regional language films in one screen of multiplex cinemas of the state in prime time between 1.30 pm to 7.30 pm.
• One ambulance service to be provided in a radius of 10 to 15 km for population of every 35,000 by integrating 711 ambulances working under GVK EMRI and 827 ambulances working under Health department. 
• All taluk hospitals in state to get ICU facility
• Video conferencing in jails for questioning undertrials
• Rs 10 crore grant for construction of Haj Bhavan in Mangaluru
• With 407 tigers and 6,072 elephants, Karnataka stands first in the country in wildlife conservation. Increase of 289 sq km forest area in Karnataka.
• North Karnataka to get separate Bayalata Academy
• Karnataka sub-centre to be opened in Sabarimale for benefit of over 50 lac pilgrims from state. The centre will have medical facilities and helplines
• Bengaluru-Magadi 50 km road to be developed
• Rs 800 crore grants for Belagavi, Davanagere, Hubballi-Dharwad, Shivamogga, Mangaluru and Tumkuru covered under the Smart City Mission
• Gold medal winner in Olympics to get Rs 5 crore, silver winner to get Rs 3 crore and bronze winner to get Rs 2 crore.
• Honorarium for taluk panchayat presidents increased from Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,000
• 16,500 junior nurses to get computer tabs
• Rs 300 crore granted for the development of storm water drains in Bengaluru
• Among new taluks are Moodbidri and Kadaba in DK, and Byndoor, Brahamavar and Kaup in Udupi district
• Bapuji Seva Kendra in 4,023 gram panchayats
• Reservation for women in Karnataka civil services direct recruitment now 33%
• Rs 20 crore grant for Vishwa Kannada Sammelana
• 28 lac toilets to be constructed under new 'Samara' scheme for Swachcha Karnataka. 1,000 public toilets to be constructed in Bengaluru city
• Wenlock hospital in Mangaluru to be upgraded with a grant of Rs 10 crore
• Honorarium of Rs 1,000 for all ASHA workers
• State to get 460 new gram panchayats
• RTA offices to be set up in Bantwal, Chintamani and Ranebennur
• Rs 3 lac grant for unemployed under SC/ST scheme to avail taxis
• Two-stroke autos to be phased out
• 43 roads under BBMP to be upgraded
• Govt to construct film city in Himmavu, near Mysuru for development of Kannada film industry
• Tax on two wheelers costing above Rs 1 lac hiked from 12% to 18%
• Bengaluru to become electronic vehicle capital of India
• Rs 1,091 crore for horticulture sector
• Rs 88 crore alloted for the widening of Hebbal flyover
• Underpass construction at Hebbal junction
• Free laptops for 1.5 lac medical, engineering and polytechnic students
• Free electricity slab under Bhagyajyothi scheme increased from 18 to 40 units
• Poornachandra Tejaswi Foundation for environment research, to get Rs 5 crore grant
• Raichur to get new university
• Retirement age in private sector raised from 58 to 60 years
• Karnataka school policy to be implemented
• Bengaluru suburban rail project at Rs 345 crore
• 1,191 new PU teachers to be appointed in two phases
• Free 10,000 litres of drinking water to slum dwellers
• Rs 400 crore for land acquisition for Chennai-Bengaluru-Chitradurga corridor
• 12 corridors to be developed at a cost of Rs 150 crore
• Rs 175 crore for Mahamastakabhisheka at Shravanabelagola
• Mysuru to get aero sports hub
• Churidhar uniforms for girls in high school
• Rs 30,000 subsidy for auto rickshaws using LPG
• TenderSure road development at Rs 250 crore
• Yettinahole project work under progress: CM
• Additional excise on liquor abolished
• 10.7 km major arterial roads to be constructed connecting Mysuru and Magadi roads
• Airstrips in Madikeri, Karwar and Chikkamagaluru
• Subsidy of Rs 50,000 to farmers buying tankers for water supply
• Cloud seeding in drought-affected areas at a cost of Rs 30 crore
• 'Neera policy' has been approved to support coconut growers 
• Rs 5,080 crore alloted for agricultural sector
• Karnataka One centres in 18 districts
• Funds announced for jetty construction in Malpe and Mangaluru
• No value-added tax on beer, fenny and liquor
• Mobile canteens for Sthree Shakti groups
• Ticket in multiplexes to cost maximum Rs 200
• Every district to get 'Savi Ruchi' mobile canteen
• English to be introduced from class 1
• 145 medical centres for women who face sexual harassment
• 8 TMC treated water from Koramangala STP to be supplied to Kolar and Chikkaballapura
• Eggs twice a week for Anganwady children
• Aim to provide loans of Rs 13,500 crore to 25 lac farmers
• Under 'Ksheera Bhagya', students to get milk five days a week
• Our government has been successful in making Bengaluru a model city: CM
• 1.5% growth in agricultural sector expected
• Demonetisation and unpreparedness of RBI and central govt has impacted growth: CM
• Rs 1,86,561 crore budget
• State to get 49 new taluks in 21 districts
• 6 new medical colleges (Chitradurga, Bagalkote, Haveri, Yadgir, Chikkaballapur and Chikkamagaluru), 5 super-speciality hospitals (Davanagere, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Vijayapura and Kolar) 
• 198 Namma Canteen outlets in Bengaluru on the lines of Amma Canteens in TN. Tiffin for Rs 5 and meals for Rs 10 will be provided in Namma Canteens
• Rice under 'Anna Bhagya' increased from 5 kg to 7 kg per person