DREAMS UNLIMITED BUT DELIVERY?

NT Correspondents

Bengaluru / Mysuru: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday did his best to salvage the reputation of his government, badly scarred by corruption allegations, inefficiency and infighting among his ministers while doling it out big to farmers, women and the younger generation in the last budget of his term but it remains to be seen how many of these proposals will be actually implemented with the prospects of the ruling BJP returning to power looking unlikely as per current forecasts.

Reaching out to his natural constituency, the CM who holds the finance portfolio, earmarked Rs 1000 crore for the development and renovation of various temples and Maths in the state. In what seemed to be a "please-all" exercise, Bommai presented a 'surplus budget' with an out lay of Rs 3 lakh crore.

The Opposition Congress was however unimpressed and dubbed it an "exit budget" hinting that the BJP would not return to power after the Assembly polls. Among the proposals in the 2023-24 budget were the construction of a 'majestic' Ram temple at Ramadevara Betta (hill) in Ramanagara district and development of Anjanadri hill in Koppal district, which is believed to be the birth place of Lord Anjaneya (Hanuman).

The decision on a Ram temple came two months after district in-charge minister CN Ashwath Narayan made a plea in this connection with Bommai. Seeking to reach out farmers who form a big chunk of voters, Bommai announced an increase in the limit of interest-free short-term loans given to them from Rs three lakh to Rs five lakh from the coming financial year.

"This year, loan of Rs 25,000 crore will be distributed to more than 30 lakh farmers," he said. He announced that a new scheme called "Shrama Shakthi" was being launched under which a financial assistance of Rs 500 per head every month will be provided by the government to landless women farm labourers through direct benefit transfer (DBT).

 Further, Rs 1,000 crore will be allocated for a free bus pass facility to all working women in the organised sector. A similar measure for school and college going girl students, at a cost of Rs 350 crore under 'Vidhya Vahini' Scheme would help 8 lakh beneficiaries.