Yeddy to Unveil Agri Budget Along with General Budget on Feb 24

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Feb 22: For the first time in the country, Karnataka Chief Minister will be unveiling a separate budget for Agriculture – a first not only among all states but even at the Centre – while presenting the state’s annual budget for the year 2011-12 on Thursday, February 24.

The budget session of the state legislature will commence on February 24 along with the presentation of the Agriculture Budget and the General Budget and the entire session is expected to last 15 days to conclude on March 17.

This will be the sixth budget being presented by Yeddyurappa, who also had the privilege of presenting two budgets as deputy chief minister cum finance minister under the H D Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-BJP coalition regime, and as Chief Minister cum Finance Minister since the May 2008 assembly elections.

The State Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah, who had to abruptly end the last session which turned out to be quite stormy on account of the opposition dharna in both houses over the alleged land scams against the Chief Minister, on Tuesday expressed confidence that the session would run smoothly.

"I am very optimistic,” he said indicating that the would probably convene a meeting of all opposition party leaders on February 25 to discuss the details of legislature business and solicit their cooperation in the smooth conduct of the House.

Homage to M P Prakash

The second day of the current legislature session would be devoted to mourning the death of former Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash and other stalwarts, and both the houses are likely to be adjourned as a mark of respect to the deceased leaders after paying homage.

Bopaiah mentioned that a proposal for enlarging the scope of the business advisory committee comprising representatives of the treasury benches and the floor leaders of all parties was under his consideration.  The Speaker indicated that at least ten important legislations will come up for passage—some of them for reconsideration and some of them to be introduced for the first time.

They include the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2007 and the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointment etc) (Amendment) Bill 2001, for reconsideration. The others are the Land Acquisition (Karnataka Amendment) Bill 2009, the Karnataka (Regional Laws) Repeal and Amendment Bill, 2009, the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill 2011, the National Law School of India (Amendment) Bill 2011 and the Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Bill which will be introduced in the legislative assembly for the first time.

State Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah

Speaker silent on Appachu Ranjan Panel

To a specific question on the course of action that he would take on the report of the Appachu Ranjan Committee which went into the disturbances on the floor of the legislative assembly when the Government faced the first confidence vote on October 11, Bopaiah declined to spell out his decision.

The Appachu Ranjan Committee, which went into the conduct of 15 opposition members for creating ruckus in the Assembly during the vote of confidence has recommended the suspension of 8 Congress members and 7 JD(S) members for periods ranging from six months and one year for their alleged unruly behaviour.

There is also another committee constituted under the chairmanship of Srikanth Kulkarni and its report is awaited.

Bonanza for Aganawadi Workers, Assistants

Meanwhile, the State Cabinet, which met here on Tuesday morning, approved grant of gratuity payment at the time of retirement from service apart from a monthly pension to the nearly 70,000 anganwadi workers and assistants, according to Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya, who briefed reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

It also decided to increase the retirement age of anganwadi workers and assistants to 60 years. All anganwadi workers and assistants who attain the age of 60 as on March 31 will retire from service along with all others serving in the same sector who have surpassed that age.

In all, around 3000 of the 70,000 anganwadi workers and assistants are expected to retire on March 31 and the Government has made a special allocation of funds to pay them a gratuity, Dr Acharya said. The Government will collect Rs 150 per month from the anganwadi workers and Rs 75 per month from the assistants towards payment of gratuity and pension and make a matching contribution and this amount will be parked with the Life Insurance Corporation and the employees will be paid the gratuity at the time of superannuation. The anganwadi workers will also be eligible for a monthly of Rs 500 and the assistants for a pension of Rs 300 per month.

The State Government has also agreed in principle to enhance the monthly honorarium of anganwadi workers and the anganwadi assistants by Rs 500 and Rs 200. The proposal is presently awaiting the approval of the Finance Department and thereafter the Chief Minister. At present, the anganwadi workers get a honorarium of Rs 2,500 honorarium and their assistants Rs 1,250. They will also be eligible for a 15-day summer vacation from this year.

The cabinet also discussed at length the new Karnataka Integrated Agri-business Development Policy. Experts from various sectors have given their opinion to the State Government largely aimed at value addition for agricultural produce and to ensure that members of the farming community had gainful employment round the year.