Will consider proposal to make Madhugiri a district, says Siddu

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Tumakuru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that he would give serious consideration to upgrading Madhugiri taluk to the status of a district. The CM added that the move may lead to better administration.

Madhugiri town and the villages that make up the taluk currently fall in Tumakuru district.

Siddaramaiah pointed out that it was co-operation minister and Madhugiri MLA KN Rajanna who had pushed to make the taluk into a district.

“I will definitely look into KN Rajanna's demand to make Madhugiri a district,” the CM said.

He heaped praise on his ministerial colleague for his service in public life. “If we lose Rajanna politically, it will be a huge loss to the people of Madhugiri. Rajanna has worked towards the development of the poor,” he added.

Siddaramaiah added that he would construct a ropeway on the monolith hill in Madhugiri.

10 years since Ksheera Bhagya launch

The CM also commemorated 10 years since his flagship scheme Ksheera Bhagya was launched under his first term.

Under the scheme, schoolchildren from classes one to ten used to get milk five days a week. The plan was to combat malnutrition.

“For the mental and physical fitness of the children of the state, the Ksheera Bhagya scheme had been implemented and more than 54 lakh children have nutritious food every day and it has received immense appreciation at the international level,” Siddaramaiah said.

He was speaking at a programme organized by Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Federation and District Cooperative Milk Producers Union in Madhugiri.

“Children can be healthy and educated only if they are mentally and physically fit. Ksheera Bhagya was implemented keeping in view the welfare of the poor and middle class children of all castes and religions,” he added.

Modi’s criticism of guarantees slammed

Siddaramaiah also defended his government’s guarantees and welfare schemes, calling them a boon for the marginalized.

The CM also trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him whether the country's economy would not be damaged if Ambani and Adani were given privileges.

He was referring to Modi’s criticism of Congress’ welfare schemes, deriding them as “revdis” (a kind of sweet) meant to satisfy people. The PM has repeatedly claimed that the guarantees would prove to be a heavy burden on the exchequer.

Home Minister G Parameshwara, Animal Husbandry Minister K. Venkatesh, Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) president Bhimanayka, MLAs Ranganath, Shadakshari were present on the occasion.