Karnataka chief minister, HD Kumaraswamy presented the state budget at the Assembly in Vidhana Soudha while opposition staged a walkout. The key focus was on farmers and development of the state.
Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy presented the state budget 2019-20 in Vidhana Soudha, amidst ruckus by the opposition.
Farmers: Kumaraswamy stated that he would successfully implement the farm loan waiver and keep the focus on organic farming and drip irrigation. Rs 35 crore has been earmarked for organic farming alone. Kumaraswamy said that Rs 150 crore package has been allotted for grape and pomegranate farmers. He also promised to lay more focus on anti-drought schemes and stated that despite asking the Union government for Rs 2000 crore, he received only Rs 969 crore. A new scheme to provide affordable, low interest loans to small farmers was announced. "The scheme is to prevent farmers from being exploited by private moneylenders," said Kumaraswamy.
Sericulture: The chief minister spoke about revamping the Karnataka Silk Marketing Board and said that progressive silk farmers would be trained and given an honorarium with an outlay of Rs 2 crore. He also stated that Rs 10 crore has been set aside for a silk museum that is to be set up in Channapatna.
Animal Husbandry: Kumaraswamy has announced that the Department of Animal Husbandry would receive Rs 2 crore for mobile clinics to treat sick cattle. Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for rearing country chicken and another Rs 5 crore has been allocated for producing KFD vaccines. The chief minister also stated that the government is going to build 2000 houses for fishermen and a sewage treatment plant would be set up at Malpe at the cost of Rs 15 crore.
Education: Chief minister Kumaraswamy promised to provide quality education to all children of the state. He also stated that the Karnataka Budget 2019 would lay emphasis on infrastructure development in schools. Kumaraswamy promised 1,500 new school buildings in the state. CET exams will also be made online. The state has earmarked Rs 2 crore to implement a system to distribute Aadhaar-based digital marks cards and certificates to students. One lakh teachers will be offered training under the Guruchetana programme by the Bangalore Central University. Kumaraswamy stated that the university salaries would be brought on par with the 7th Pay Commission. He has allotted Rs 1200 crore to develop toilets and schools in Karnataka.
Health: The Arogya Karnataka Scheme will be merged with the Ayushman Bharat Scheme wherein 1600 medical procedures will be covered. Kumaraswamy stated that the benefit of the two schemes would be reaped by close to 1.15 crore families. He also stated that Tumakuru District Hospital will have an additional cancer treatment division at the cost of Rs 60 crore. Centres to conduct mammogram and papsmear tests will be set up across Mangaluru, Tumakuru, Vijayapura, Chitradurga, Davangere, Bagalkot, Chikkamagaluru, Haveri, Kolar and Chikkaballapura.
Development: Kumaraswamy stated that Rs 12 lakh crore has been allocated for the development of Bengaluru and Rs 8015 crore has been allocated for the modernisation of Bengaluru. For the lakes of Bengaluru, Rs 9 crore has been set aside for controlling pollution in Bellandur, Varthur and Agara lakes. Rs 200 crore has been allocated just for the rejuvenation of lakes at Shikaripura. For the lakes in the state of Karnataka, Rs 1600 crore has been alloted for rejuvenation purposes. Speaking about rural Karnataka, the chief minister said, "In November, rural Karnataka was declared open-defecation free."
Tourism: Rs 25 crore has been earmarked to modernise the birthplace of the late Siddaganga seer. Rs 12.5 crore has been set aside for the construction of sports guest houses at Yadgir, Ballari, Chikkaballapura, Bidar and Madikeri.
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