BUDGET 2023

Bonanza for farmers, weavers

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Farmers reaped a rich harvest in the second and final State Budget presented by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who also holds the finance portfolio, here on Friday.

Toeing the lines of the BJPled NDA Government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM has announced a bonanza for the farming community which included increasing the limit for interest-free short-term loans from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh that will benefit around 30 lakh farmers. A total of Rs 25,000 crore will be disbursed by the government.

Other sops included an additional subsidy of Rs.10,000 to Kisan Credit Card holders under ‘Bhoo Siri’ Yojane to benefit 50 lakhs farmers; implementation o f Jeevan Jyothi Bima Yojane for 56 lakh small and marginal farmers’ familiesatan expenditure of Rs.180 crores; interest subsidy for capital up to Rs10 lakh to encourage Farmer Producers Organisations under Mukhyamanthri Raitha Unnathi Yojane; Rs100 crores for processing and export promotion of agricultural and horticultural products under Raitha SampadaYojane; allocation of Rs.50 crore to provide hi-tech harvesters to Krushi Yantra Dhare Centres; the incentive of Rs.10,000 to promote farmers growing minor millets under Raitha Siri Yojane; introduction of Apical Root Culture Technology for self-reliance of farmers in Potato seeds; assistance of Rs10 crore to Agriculture and Horticulture Research Centre at Theerthahalli for research relating to disease management and increasing productivity of Arecanut crop; establishment of Horticulture College in Tiptur; a grant of Rs.100 crore for Karnataka Grapes and Wine Board; a grant of Rs. 75 crores for the Sahasra Sarovara and Sahyadri Siri programs, Implementation of the Jalanidhi Programme for constructing water ponds in farmers’ lands and establishment of a hi-tech Silk Cocoon Market in Shidlaghatta at an expenditure of Rs 75 crore.

The assistance of Rs10 crore has been provided for establishing 32 Automatic Reeling Units; Rs12 crore for providing shredders to 1,000 silk growers; Rs.5 crore for incorporating Hot Air Conveyor Dryesr in 10 places in the State and Rs.8 crore for infrastructure development in the Mysuru sowing area.

Targeting the sericulture farmers of Ramanagar, Mandya, and Bengaluru Rural districts, the government has announced grants for hi-tech silk cocoon market, automatic reeling units, and shredders to 1,000 silk growers.

Similarly, the fishermen of coastal Karnataka had been given several programs including financial assistance to go for mechanized boats, subsidy on diesel, fish markets and coverage of their children under the Vidyanidhi scheme. Even the farmers of other regions, Kalyana Karnataka, Kittur Karnataka, Central Karnataka, and South Karnataka have been given programmes.

Govt to build Ram temple in Ramanagara: CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday announced a ‘majestic’ Ram temple will be constructed at Ramadevara Betta (hill) in Ramanagara district near here.

The Chief Minister also said Anjanadri hill in Koppal district, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman), a detailed project has been formulated involving various works at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore to provide basic facilities for tourists and a tender has been invited.

He also said that in the next two years, a comprehensive development and renovation drive of various temples and Maths will be undertaken by the government with an expenditure of Rs 1,000 crore. “A majestic Rama Mandira will be constructed in Ramadevara Betta of Ramanagara,” Bommai, who also holds the finance portfolio, said while presenting the 2023-24 budget in the Assembly.

Ramanagara district incharge Minister C N Ashwath Narayan had in December last year urged Bommai to constitute a development committee to build a temple at Ramadevara Betta on the lines of Sri Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.

In a letter to Bommai and Muzrai Minister Shashikala Jolle, he had demanded that Ramadevara Betta should be developed as the ‘Ayodhya of South India’. The Ram temple should be built using 19 acres of space that belong to the Department of Muzrai at Ramadevara Betta, Narayan had said.

Stating that there is a strong belief among the people of the region that Sugriva had installed Ramadevara Betta, Narayan in his letter had said, “Considering the religious feelings of the people of the district, it should be developed as a heritage and attractive tourist spot. This would enable us to portray our culture as well as nurture tourism.”

“They also believe that seven great sages did their penance here. In addition, this is a prominent vulture conservation area in the