Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Updated

Bengaluru, Feb 16: CM Siddaramaiah on Friday February 16 presented Karnataka State Budget 2018-19. This will be his last budget as chief minister before this year's Assembly elections. With this, he has set record for presenting 13 state budgets, and sixth in a row.

Highlights

One of the key announcements in the budget was free education to all girl students taking admission in government pre-university, degree and post graduation courses. By this 3.7 lac number of students will be benefitted at a cost of Rs 95 crore

Presenting the budget, Siddaramaiah said, "For me, the Budget is neither a statistical jugglery nor lifeless mathematical calculations, but to say in simple terms, it is the budget of the day to day life of every citizen of the state and it is the budget of his family. I believe that a budget document is the road to travel towards achieving the developmental goals. My aim of life is to act as promised. My government has a sense of self-satisfaction of having full filled all the promises given to the people."

He went on to add, "Today, there is no situation in the State where any person goes to bed with hunger. For the poor, a stomach full of meal is neither expensive nor a dream. We are satisfied that we have given the right to food. Karnataka has won the struggle against hunger.

"Ours is a farmer-friendly government. Being a farmer’s son, I have the experience of the difficulties of a farmer’s household. Our Government has stood with the farmers in their difficult time. We have made an effort to mitigate the miseries of the farmers through several programmes including waiver of loan, interest free loan, support price and Krishi Bhagya. This is not a favour done by the Government. It is a small effort of showing indebtedness to farmers who are bread earners through reducing their burden.

"The entire country has recognized and followed the bold steps treaded by us in the sectors of health, education and housing. Our constructive administration is an inspiration to the entire nation. In the same way we are a model in attracting highest capital investment in the nation. It is natural that investment would flow to a State which is peaceful, harmonious and has investor-friendly administrative policies and creates ample employment opportunities.

"Employment is another priority area of our government. Our aim is to implement government schemes effectively by creating employment opportunities to the younger generation. Accordingly, approximately more than 1.5 lac government vacancies in the major departments including education, heath and family welfare, police, power utilities, rural development, urban development, forest, social welfare, backward classes welfare, minorities welfare, and transport corporations," he said.

Speaking on industrial investment in the state, he said, ""Karnataka has maintained first place for the second successive year in attracting industrial investment. Karnataka is not just the IT capital of India but the fourth biggest technology zone in the world. We are number one in IT exports. 35% of income share from the biotechnology sector of the country is ours. Our investment share in production sector of the country is at 32%."

He also said that Karnataka has been ahead of other states in agriculture and dairy sectors.

Other highlights

• Total expenditure – Rs 2,09,181 crore, total receipts - Rs 2,02,297 crore.
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 6,647 crore allocated to the home department.

• With a cost of Rs 85 crore, a new high security prison will be constructed at Mangaluru.

• Karnataka Prison Development Board will be established to give skill training in various professions to prisoners to enable their rehabilitation.

• Cyber Forensic Laboratories to be established at a cost of Rs 5 crore to help cyber police stations to effectively investigate and prevent cyber crime.

• 'Nirbhaya kendras' will be established in all the police commissioner’s offices of the state.

• All the women police stations in the district headquarters will be upgraded as one stop service centres. Toilets for women will be constructed in all police stations and offices.

• To empower and to provide self employment to women, light motor vehicle driving training will be imparted to 100 women candidates through transport department in heavy vehicle driving training institutes at Bengaluru and Dharwad and to 1,000 women candidates through the BMTC.
  
  
• A Journalists Bhavan will be built in Bengaluru at a cost of Rs 5 crore. 
  
  
• 'Madhyama Sanjeevini', group insurance facility will be provided to journalists with a view to give insurance coverage upto Rs 5 lac to the families of the deceased in case of untimely death due to accidents or casualties while on professional duty.
  
  
• Rs 459 crore allocated to tourism department. 
  
  
• For the first time, a Feature Film Tourism Policy will be implemented to popularize tourist destinations of the state at the international and national levels through feature films. 
  
  
• Rs 147 crore allocated to the E-governance department
  
  
• E-Attestation facility will launched to overcome the problems being faced by citizens in attestation of their records. 
  
  
• Karnataka Open Data Initiative (K-ODI) system will be formulated to implement the recommendation of
  Karnataka Gnana Ayoga within 3 years to provide open data/information to the public. Rs 5 crore is earmarked
  for this purpose.
  
  
• Upgrading of Sakaala 2.0 using modern e-governance tools like e-Sign, Digital Locker etc., and services will be made faceless, cashless and paperless.
  
  
• Rs 247 crore allocated to IT, BT, S&T department
  
  
• A 'Legal Framework for Innovation' will be established in order to bring new and emerging technologies under a legal framework until appropriate law is enacted. 
  
  
• To encourage innovations in different areas in the state, Karnataka Innovation Authority will be established under the chairmanship of the chief minister. 
  
  
• Incubation Center will be established in Kalaburagi in association with the Deshpande Foundation at a cost of Rs 5 crore. 

• Eleven new industrial townships will be developed through Karnataka State Small Scale Industries Development Corporation at Koppal, Ballari, Yadagiri, Dharwad, Tumakuru, Mysuru, Chamaraganagar, Bengaluru rural and Ramanagara districts to encourage investment for the development of micro/small and medium scale industries in grade 2 and 3 cities.

• Subsidy will be provided to install weigh bridges in the sand stockyard areas of sand mining licensees, to install M-sand manufacturing machinery and pay license fee by traditional quarrying societies.

• Learning Excellence Centre will be established at a cost of Rs 23 crore in industry 4.0 technology in association with Confederation of Indian Industries. 50% of the project cost will be given by the government and Rs 5 crore will be provided during current year. 
  
  
• Penalty levied by the local bodies will be waived off if principal property tax is paid before September 2018 in a single installment, in cases where the property tax and penalty are required to be paid to the local bodies by industries situated in industrial area/townships.
• Policy on labour intensive industries to encourage setting up of employment intensive industries in the state.
  
  
• Innovation Policy to boost innovative ideas of youngsters and to encourage manufacturing start-ups in association with technical and research institutions.
  
  
• Logistic policy for better co-ordination between seaport, airport, national highway, ICD, CFS, warehouses etc, for seamless movement of goods from the production point to the consumers. 
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 601 crore allocated to the department of infrastructure development.
  
  
• With a view to manage goods and passenger transport more efficiently and to quickly reduce the density of road traffic, a feasibility study will be undertaken on the implementation of "Roll On and Roll Off" model, Multi modal logistic park and sea-plane services under public-private-partnership model
  
  
• Rs 9,271 crore allocated to the public works department.

• A coastal berth of 250 meter length at a cost of Rs 61 crore and breakwater of 425 meter at a cost of Rs 90 crore will be constructed at Karwar harbour.

• Construction of coastal berth of 300 meter at a cost of Rs 65 crore and dredging work will be undertaken to increase the depth by 7 meter at a cost of Rs 29 crore at old Mangaluru harbour.

• Separate toilets and dressing rooms will be constructed for women at all public buildings by amending the Public Works Code.

• The front part of Karnataka Bhavan-1, New Delhi will be demolished and a new Bhavan will be constructed in the next two years at cost of Rs 30 crore.
  
  
• 2,722 km length of state Highway will be developed under KSHDP-IV at an estimated cost of Rs 3,480 crore and a detailed project report will be prepared in 2018-19.
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 14,136 crore allocated to the energy department. 
  
  
• During the year 2018-19, 35 power sub-stations will be established through Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation at Ramasamudra of Yadagir taluk, Yapaladinni of Raichur, Yaradona and Bennur of Gangavati, Tavaragera of Kushtagi, Bachigondanahalli of Hagaribommanahalli, Talikoti of Muddebihal, Rodagi (Kedagi cross) of Indi, Hebballi of Badami, Garaga (Shedabal) of Dharwad, Belavanaki of Rona, Mulky of Mangaluru, Madavu of Puttur and various other places.
  
  
• 'Samyojane','Dishank', 'Samikshe', 'Aadhaar Sangrahane', and 'Moulya' mobile apps to be launched for various citizen services under revenue department.
  
  
• 'E-Kshana' system launched to issue caste, income and residence certificate online and over the counter immediately. The same will be extended to all areas of the state including urban areas.
  
  
• Action is being taken for rejuvenation of Tippagondanahalli and Hesaraghatta reservoirs at a cost of Rs 340 crore and around 2.5 TMC of water available from Yethinahole project will be supplied for Bengaluru city for drinking water purpose. With this, by 2021 around 200 MLD water will be supplied to Bengaluru city every day.
  
  
• 'Power generating plants out of solid waste' to be set up in 4 divisions of the state, to reduce the escalating problem of solid waste management through public-private participation model.
  
  
• Water Supply Information System covering standard service level indicators will be put in place using IT tools with regular updation at the local body level and making this information available on internet. It is proposed to take this up in 10 urban local bodies (ULBs) at a cost of Rs 25 crore and the same would be extended to other ULBs in a phased manner.
  
  
• Rejuvenation work on Bellandur will be continued during the year 2018-19 at a cost of Rs 50 crore. 
  
  
• Bengaluru urban development (at Rs 2,500 crore): Preparatory works on white topping of all arterial roads and sub-arterial roads, development of 88 lakes, comprehensive development of 100 km of major roads, construction of grade separator in eight major junctions to reduce vehicle traffic density, development of 150 km of major water drains, development of 250 km length of footpaths of different roads keeping in view the safety of pedestrians, development of roads in 110 villages recently included to the corporation limit, development of 14 roads providing alternative connectivity to ITPL to mitigate the inconvenience caused by high vehicular density due to Metro project work in Whitefield area, and construction of NAL - Wind tunnel road in lieu of property given by HAL as per the agreement in relation to signal-free corridor project on Old Airport road. 
  
  
• Rs 1,763 crore allocated to planning and area development department. 
  
  
• To improve the basic infrastructure and to reduce regional imbalances, works amounting to Rs 1,500 crore will be taken up through the Hyderabad Karnataka Regional Development Board.
  
  
• Rs 70 crore, Rs 55 crore and Rs 25 crore will be provided to Malnad Development Board, Bayaluseeme Development Board and Karavali Area Development Board respectively.
  
  
• Grievances Redressal Authority will be established at each zilla panchayat with a provision for maintenance expenditure.
  
  
• It is proposed to digitise records and documents of gram panchayats and Rs 5 crore will be provided to implement it on pilot basis in selected gram panchayats in the current year.
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 3,882 crore allocated to the department of food, civil supplies and consumer affairs. 
  
  
• Under 'Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya Yojana', free gas connection with twin burners stove and two refills will be given to 30 lac beneficiaries with an expenditure of Rs 1,350 crore.
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 237 crore is allocated to youth empowerment and sports department.
  
  
• To provide sports education and to develop sports related expert human resource and research, a 'Karnataka Sports University' will be established in the state under public-private partnership.

• A 'youth helpline' operating 365 days a year will be established to provide education and employment related information to the youth.

• Well-equipped separate women's hostels with all types of facilities will be started in five districts of the state.

• Rs 425 crore allocated to Kannada and culture department. 
  
  
• Kuvempu’s Mysuru residence 'Udaya Ravi' will be preserved and developed as a national poet monument.
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 794 crore has been allocated to skill development, entrepreneurship and livelihood department. 
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 531 crore is allocated to labour department. 
  
  
• A scheme will be implemented at a cost of Rs 25 crore under 'Ambedkar Karmika Sahaya Hastha scheme', for issuance of smart cards alongwith contributory provident fund pension scheme to unorganized labourers such as washermen, barbers, goldsmiths, ironsmiths, potters and kiln workers.
  
  
• In 2018-19, various schemes will be taken up at a total expenditure of Rs 2,281 crore in department of minorities welfare, Haj and Wakf. 
  
  
• Subsidy of Rs 2 crore will be provided to the Beary Welfare Association for educational and social development. 

• Rs 15 crore will be provided in a phased manner towards modernisation of Madrasas, formal education and improvement of basic infrastructure.

• On the occasion of silver jubilee celebration of Karnataka State Wakf Council, various schemes will be taken up in the next 5 years. For this purpose, Rs 20 crore will be provided to Council's corpus fund during the year 2018-19.

• Rs 200 crore will be allocated for the development and various programmes for the Christian community.

• Various programmes will be taken up for comprehensive development of Jain and Sikh communities at a cost of Rs 80 crore.

• Free pre-examination coaching from prestigious institutes for JEE, NEET, GATE, GMAT will be provided
  to backward class students to get admission in higher educational institutions.

• Monthly scholarship/fellowship will be enhanced from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 for backward class students engaged in full time PhD work.

• The creamy layer income limit for availing reservation for backward classes will be enhanced from Rs 6 lac to Rs 8 lac.

• In next 5 years, it is proposed to send 750 backward class students for higher education at foreign universities and 150 students will be selected during the year 2018-19.

• 'Dr B R Ambedkar Spoorthi Bhavana' will be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 crore near Vikasa Soudha for social welfare department.

• One time financial assistance to students who are admitted in national institutions such as IIT/IIM/IISc/NIT etc will be enhanced from Rs 1 lac to Rs 2 lac.

• Incentive amount will be increased from existing Rs 2 lac to Rs 3 lac for a scheduled caste boy marrying a girl from another caste and from existing Rs 3 lac to Rs 5 lac for a scheduled caste girl marrying a boy from another caste. In the same model incentive of Rs 5 lac and Rs 3 lac will be given for the marriage of female and male children of Devadasis.

• To strengthen the SC/ST co-operative societies economically, it is proposed to give subsidy in the form of share capital. For 100 such eligible societies 50% of share capital paid by the members or a maximum of Rs 10 lac will be given. This scheme will be taken up at an expenditure of Rs 5 crore.
  
  
• 25% of seats will be reserved for backward classes and minority students in SC/ST postmatric hostels.
  
  
• Rs 5,371 crore allocated for women and child welfare department.
  
  
• Transit hostels will be set up for women coming to Bengaluru for the purposes of interview for employment, entrance examination etc., with the assistance of voluntary organizations/private partnership.
  
  
• A grant of Rs 1 crore will be provided to commence a comprehensive information resources portal for women to communicate essential information relating to schemes, facilities and amenities for women.
• From 2018-19, the monthly pension will be increased by Rs 200 to differently abled persons with more than 75% disability and to the differently-abled persons with less than 75% disability, monthly pension will be increased by Rs 100. As many as 8.46 lac differently-abled persons will be benefitted by this and a additional grant of Rs 146 crore will be earmarked.

• Rs 1 crore grant will be provided for coaching/training in English, law, sports, fine arts, preparation for competitive examinations and provide training in skill development required for livelihood to children residing in juvenile homes and observation homes.

• Rs 3 crore grants will be provided to convert juvenile courts functioning in selected 10 districts into child friendly courts.

• Rs 17.50 crore earmarked to start 250 new Anganwadi Centers in urban areas. 
  
  
• A total amount of Rs 6,645 crore allocated for health and family welfare department.
  
  
• A 'State Health Council' shall be set up with mandate of recommending health sector policy and programme options to the government, keeping an oversight on performance and effectiveness of public health institutions and overseeing effective implementation of Karnataka Private Medical Establishment Act (KPME Act).
  
  
• 'Arogya Karnataka Yojane' (Universal Health Coverage) will be started in February 2018 and will be implemented in the entire State by the end of this year in order to make available primary and specific secondary and tertiary treatment to all people of the State.
  
  
• As many as 9,000 Health and Wellness Centers will be set up by upgrading the existing Sub-Centers for every 5000
  population in rural areas during the next 7 years for providing high quality comprehensive primary healthcare services. The focus is on reproductive and child health and on prevention of illness and promotes wellbeing in the community. Among these, 571 centers will be established during 2018-19.
  
  
• Free education to all girl students taking admission in government pre-university, degree and post graduation courses. By this 3.7 lac number of students will be benefitted at a cost of Rs 95 crore.
  
  
• A Konkani Study Chair will be established at Karnataka University, Dharwad at a cost of Rs 1 crore.
  
  
• 100 primary and high schools which have completed 100 years will be reorganised as "Heritage Schools" and these will be renovated and protected in a phased manner.
  
  
• CCTV cameras will be installed at government primary and secondary schools in a phased manner.
  
  
• Under Paschima Vahini scheme, a vented dam to prevent salt water entering into the Netravathi river will be constructed at Harekala in Mangaluru taluk in Dakshina Kannada district to provide drinking water and irrigation facilities at a cost of Rs 174 crore.
  
  
• For the first time in the history of the state a novel scheme "Raitha Belaku" to give direct income assistance will be started to mitigate the miseries of dryland farmers.
  
  
• Rs 15,929 crore allocated for water resource departmentand Rs 5,080 crore for agriculture sector in the state.
  
  
• The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) in the year 2017-18 grew at the rate of 8.5 percent as against
  the rate of 7.5 percent during 2016-17. 
  
  
• Rs 2,099 crore allocated for minor irrigation sector in the state and Rs 1,091 crore for horticulture department.
  
  
• Farmers can get Rs 10 lac loan at 3% interest rate.
  
  
• Bonanza for state government employees, 6th pay panel recommendation is accepted.
  
  
• Farm loan waiver hiked to Rs 1 lac for deceased farmers' families.
  
  
• Special package of Rs 24 crore announced for minor millets.
  
  
• Rs 600 crore allocated for Krishi Bhagya.
  
  
• Rs 120 crore allocated for the maintenance of Indira Canteens in BBMP limits.
  
  
• Free bus pass for 19.6 lac students across Karnataka.
  
  
• Agriculture research centre at Muddebihal and agriculture college at Chamrajnagar.
  
  
• 1000 BMTC buses to get CCTV cameras under Nirbhaya scheme.
  
  
• Multi-storied parking lots to be set up in 5 different locations of Bengaluru.