Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Mar 25: Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, has clarified that none of the schemes meant for the benefit of the minorities other than the 'Shadimahal' scheme of the state government is being discontinued. He stated that in fact, new schemes have been implemented and additional funds have been earmarked for various schemes meant for the welfare of minorities.
He was responding to a question raised by C M Ibrahim of the Congress party. "We have not dropped the 'Gangakalyana' scheme. The amount under the scheme has been increased from Rs 1.5 lac to two lac rupees. From June onward permission to sink tubewells will be given. As there was inordinate delay in the implementation of this scheme, we have stopped the system of giving the work on tender. Instead, money will be directly credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries. Money will be disbursed in two or three instalments when getting power connection for digging the borewell," he explained.
Bommai said that Rs 22 crore has been set aside to open one school per district with CBSE syllabus in the name of the late Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, and Rs 110 crore has been earmarked to provide training to 50,000 minority community candidates to face competitive examinations this year. He also stated that additional money has been released by providing for additional intake of 25 children in each of the hostels as there has been more demand for admission into hostels this time.
Bommai further explained that under the 'Arivu' scheme of granting of educational loans, more allowance as compared to the previous year, is being released. "We are laying additional emphasis on getting students for postgraduate and professional courses. From this year, the loan facility is being extended even to BA and BCom students. Loan facility for street vendors belonging to special minority communities is also being given, he added. In reply to a question of Nazeer Ahmed of the Congress, he said that special grants will be given for the development of minority colonies in city and town
municipalities by treating them as slums.
"Assistance being given to PhD students had been stopped. After I assumed power, it was restarted. We will look into the request to re-introduce the scheme of giving Rs 24 lac loan to students studying abroad," he explained.