On Friday, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Basavaraj Bommai presented the state budget, fixed at the size of Rs.2,65,719.92Cr for the financial year 2022 – 2023. The size of the budget is increased by ₹19,512.92 crores over the previous year and the borrowing has come down by Rs.4000Cr.
The main focus of the budget was on relieving the pandemic caused damages, as no new tax, or raise in tax was levied.
“I have attempted for a balanced development of all sections of society and all regions in my first Budget. The Budget is the reflection of the aspirations of people-centric development,” Mr. Bommai said.
Instead of new the plans and schemes, the decision was made for the reintroduction of the Yeshaswini health insurance scheme for farmers. Through the PDS, the decision for the distribution of an additional one kg of ragi or jowar along with five kg rice was made official.
For Mekedatu Project an allocation of Rs.1000Cr was observed.
Under Welfare Measures, the budget proposes,
- A monthly hardship allowance of ₹2,000 for pourakarmikas.
- An increase of Rs.1000 for midday meal workers, and ASHA volunteers. An increase of Rs.1500 for Anganwadi workers with over 20 years of service.
- The budget also mentions an increase in pensions for weaker sections.
- This budget adopts a “3Es Mantra” – Employment, Education, and Empowerment.
- The budget proposed aids and schemes for the upliftment of weaker sections like,
- The assistance of ₹50,000 for the purchase of electric three-wheeler goods vehicle costing ₹1.50 lakh for SC/ST youth.
- Under Rural Livelihood Mission, Rs.1100Cr is allocated for providing jobs for youth, women, and weaker sections.
- A scheme called Vinaya Samarasya Yojane was proposed for eradicating untouchability and to fund the restoration and development of SC/ST mutts and institutions.
- Under the ‘Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Sauharda Vidhyarthi Nilaya’ scheme, a ₹400 crore allotment is proposed for the development of backward and most backward communities. *Under the same scheme the construction of multi-storeyed hostel complexes each of 1,000 capacity in various cities for encouraging higher education of SC/ST, OBC, and minority children.
- Rs.250Cr allotted to the construction of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology in Hubballi to make high-tech treatment available in North Karnataka.
This Budget has allocated Rs 8,409 crore for Bengaluru. The Chief Minister said that the emphasis would be on speedy implementation of Namma Metro, Suburban Rail, Peripheral Ring Road, and other projects planned for decongestion of traffic, and development of lakes and green cover.
- Rs.6000Cr in next three years for Amrutha Nagarothana scheme to provide infrastructure facilities in the city like various road development, grade separator, lake development, major stormwater drain development, parks, buildings, solid waste management, street lights, and slum development.
- 33 Kilometers of Metro Line to be added in the next financial year.
- PRR: The Chief Minister said, “The government has approved the tender to implement the work for Rs 21,091 crore including land acquisition, in the current year under DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer) model. The contractor will bear the cost of land acquisition and construction.”
- BBMP, BDA, and NHAI jointly to take upgrade separator and flyover work to decongest traffic at Goraguntepalya.
- Around 2,671 acres of land has been acquired for the formation of the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout.
- Rs.600Cr allotted for pending construction work on the campus of Rajiv Gandhi University of Medical Sciences in Archakarahalli of Ramanagara.
- A modular 500 bedded hospital to be constructed newly in Bowring and Lady Curzon hospital.
Image Credits:
The Hindu
