One year of Siddu: Good show so far

The Congress government led by Mr. Siddramaiah completed a year in office on May 20. Ushered into power with a landslide victory, the Government can justifiably lay claim in fulfilling the five guarantees—supply of free power to households consuming less than 200 units of power a month; offering free ride to women in buses owned by the State transport; remitting Rs. 2,000 in bank accounts of women from families holding BPL cards; supplying 10 kgs of free rice under Anna Bhagya to ration cardholders; and, offering Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 2,000 to degree and diploma holders respectively.

Perhaps it deserves special encomiums for delivering the promises without causing much hassles to the beneficiaries while applying filters for testing genuineness.

However, it remains to be seen how it addresses and overcomes the burden on the state exchequer, especially when fiscal wisdom demands that key amenities such as power and transport should never be offered free.

The government also deserves appreciation in restoring communal harmony and fostering social cohesiveness by tightening screws against hate speech, initiating prompt action against spreaders of lies and misinformation and ensuring that contentious issues are resolved through dialogue.

However a series of passion crimes in recent weeks do smudge the State police’s copybook on the law and order front. The complex issue calls for crafting a policy that negotiates with basic freedoms even while ensuring safety of young women.

Critics may have reason to find fault with the Siddramaiah Government on drought, with nearly 226 of the State’s 234 taluks reporting acute scarcity of water and withering of crops.

The administration did wake up late even though the hints of monsoon failure over the state were available in September 2023 itself. The Centre’s discriminatory stance complicated the matters and relief.

It must thank its stars as the 2024 monsoon is showing prospects of plentiful precipitation. The friction-free governance and reasonably good alignment between the party and Government too could be added as a vital achievement of the Siddramaiah government.

It however will be put to further test after party’s performance in the Lok Sabha poll would be known on June 4.