NAMMA BUDGET: Siddu doles it out big for all, five guarantees take the cake

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah deployed the one-two punch of reiterating his government's commitment to the five guarantees even while flaying the BJP-led Central government for its “anti-people” decisions during his Budget speech.

The latter prompted sloganeering followed by a walk-out by BJP MLAs.

The two-time CM was presenting his 15th Budget speech as finance minister, eight as CM and the second of the present Congress government.

While defending the five guarantees which include free power upto 200 units consumption and doleouts for women heads of families and unemployed youth, Siddaramaiah said his Budget would have a total outlay of Rs 3,71,383 crore, while borrowings this year would cross the Rs 1 lakh crore mark.

He proposed to revise the tax slabs for Indian Made Liquor (IML) and beer, “to rationalise them” and make them competitive with similar products of neighbouring states.

Siddaramaiah also said though he has presented a revenue deficit budget (of Rs 27,354 crore), he has increased the allocation for welfare programmes to Rs 1,20,373 crore.

“Further I have successfully ensured fiscal consolidation by keeping fiscal deficit within three per cent of GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) and total outstanding liabilities within 25 per cent of GSDP,” he said.

AT A GLANCE

Urban development

• Peripheral ring road to be developed as Bengaluru Business Corridor
• 250 meter tall sky-deck to be built in Bengaluru city

Woman & Child Devpt

• Rs 28,608 crore allocated for Gruhalakshmi guarantee
• Enhancement of Pension under Maithri scheme to Rs 1,200

Horticulture

• Setting up of Kisan Malls
• International floriculture market in Bengaluru

Housing

• Construction target of 3 lakh houses this year

PWD

• 875-km state highway development at a cost of Rs 5,736 cr
• Construction of 6 railway overbridges at a cost of Rs 350 cr

Scheduled tribe welfare, minorities welfare

• Rs 15,000 stipend for 200 engineering graduates
• Rs 50 cr for Jain pilgrimage centres and Rs 200 crore for the development of Christian community
• Renaming and strengthening of Ashram schools
• Rs 2 cr for the welfare of Sikligar Sikh community, Rs 1 crore to gurudwara in Bidar
• Rs 10 cr to encourage minority women SHGs scheme
• Rs 200 cr for construction of 1,000 Anganwadis Rs 90 cr to be spent on providing 75,938 smartphones
• Rs 100 cr for Waqf properties

Food, civil supplies and consumer affairs

• Rs 4,595 transferred to 4.02 cr benefi ciaries under Annabhagya till Jan, 2024
• Anna-Suvidha programme to be launched

Agriculture

• Siddaramaiah launches 'Karnataka Raitha Samruddhi Yojane'
• Formation of Agriculture Development Authority
• Establishment of food parks at airports

Education

• Conversion of 2000 Government Primary Schools
• Coaching for science students

Medical

• Education Investment of Rs 20 cr in robotic surgery facility
• Creation of health repository