Overview of Karnataka budget 2016-17

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 18, 2016

• Budget size (Consolidated fund) – Rs.163419 crores. It is 14.65% more than the Budget Estimate of Rs. 142534 crore estimated for B.E. 2015-16.
• State Plan Size is at Rs. 85375 crores. It is more than the Budget Estimate of Rs. 72597 crores estimate for B.E. 2015-16. Increase is 17.6%.
• Total receipts – Rs. 161956 crores of which Rs. 130758 crores is Revenue Receipts while Rs. 31123 crores is Loan and Capital Receipts is Rs. 75 crores.
• Total Expenditure – Rs. 163419 crores out of which Revenue Expenditure is Rs. 130236 crore and Capital Expenditure Rs. 33183 crore.

Agriculture

• Constitution of “Karnataka State Agricultural and Farmers Welfare Committee” under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister for redressal of grievances and to achieve increased co-ordination at district, taluk and hobli levels.

cm budget

• Identification of Special Agricultural Zones for emphasis on farmers and farm techniques.
• Development of 100 model agricultural villages under the “Suvarna Krishi Grama” programme.
• “Pulse Mission” to be initiated for increasing the production of pulses during 2016 as part of International Year of Pulses.
• Coverage of 1 lakh farmers under R.K.V.Y, Krishi Bhagya and “Chief Ministers Sookshma Neeravari Yojane” for providing 90% subsidy for Drip Irrigation and Sprinkler units - Rs.300 cr.
• Organizing short term training programs to farmers through Agricultural Universities. Dissemination of innovations of progressive farmers as per the recommendations of Vision Group constituted under the Chairmanship of Dr. M. S. Swaminanthan – Rs.15 cr.
• Emphasis on saline water management and anti-saline crop farming.
• Strengthening agricultural extension services under Digital Agriculture. Development of a new extension system under PPP in association with IIM, Bangalore for agricultural universities and agri-clinics.
• Weather forecast and agricultural related suggestions to about 12 lakh farmers covered by 740 Raitha Samparka Kendras - Rs.3 crores.
• Guidance to the farmers for comprehensive management of pests using IT platform – Rs.5 crore.
• Development of 14 Regional Federations established to strengthen the Savayava Bhagya scheme – Rs.10 crore.
• Implementation of Karnataka Raitha Suraksha Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana from 2016-17 - Rs.675.38 crores.
• Providing incentive for promoting the establishment of agro processing units under Agri Business and Food Processing Policy 2015 - Rs.25 crores.
• A financial assistance for implementation of Agri start-ups' – Rs.10 crores.
• Open opportunity for private agricultural universities and agricultural colleges engaged in agriculture and agricultural related education and research.

Horticulture

• Horticultural area and productivity proposed to be increased.
• Establishment of Centre of Excellence, strengthening FPOs by providing working capital and risk management support under PPP-IHD initiative.
• Implementation of new scheme to encourage SC/ST farmers in getting the benefit of horticulture with a subsidy of 90% of the unit cost corresponding to crop intervals, installed under the drip irrigation scheme by them.
• 50% subsidy for automation of drip irrigation and fertigation to encourage precision farming.
• Formation of a framework on PPP mode for improving the quality of extension service in the horticulture sector.
• Subsidy for small and marginal farmers in the State through National Seed Corporation or FPOs for cultivating potato under rain fed conditions.
• Implementation of Comprehensive Computerization system in horticulture department.

Animal Husbandry

• Establishment of semen banks for indigenous breeds of cattle and sheep / goat – Rs.5 crore.
• Economic upliftment of widows and destitute women by providing unit of 3 sheep or 3 goats with a subsidy amount of 75% - Rs.7.5 cr for 10,000 units.
• Establishment of ultra modern vaccine production unit at Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Hebbal under Jaanuvaaru Arogya Surksha Kavacha scheme - Rs.5 crores.
• Establishment of referral laboratory in Bellary for diagnosis of animal diseases.
• Implementation of “Karnataka Bovine Breeding Bill” to regulate indiscriminate breeding activities being carried out by unauthorized animal breeders.
• Taking up conservation and development programme of many valuable indigenous breeds of sheep - Rs.5 crores.
• Establishment of Cattle feed unit in Arakalagudu, Hassan district.
• Establishment of Obscure Disease Research Unit at KVAFSU, Shivamogga and Livestock Health Research and IEC center at Mulabagilu Rs. 2 crores.
• Establishment of Karnataka Sheep and Goat Farmers Co-operative Federation - Rs.5 crore.

Sericulture

• Suitable modification of cocoon production and productivity incentive to bear the production costs based on quality - Rs.20 crores.
• Establishment of cocoon banks - Rs.2 crores.
• Re-establishment of Price Stabilization Fund for the benefit of Farmers and Reelers.
• Establishment of Silk Testing Centre for certification of raw silk quality - Rs.1 crore.
• Commitment to stabilize the silk prices throughout the year and also to provide better market access to small reelers who are not capable of entering direct market. - Rs.5 crores.
• Undertaking a comprehensive study for long term development of silk industry.
• Institutional refinance mechanism to provide working capital to reelers through the Reeler cooperative societies in consultation with NABARD and Ministry of Agriculture, GOI.
• Strengthen Karnataka State Silk Research and Development Organization at Thalaghattapura.

Fisheries

• Establishment of “Inland Fisheries Development Centre” with an intention to undertake and implement specific local schemes in North Karnataka - Rs.2 crores.
• Construction of 3000 houses to houseless fishermen under Matsyashraya scheme.
• Taking up feasibility studies for construction of fishing harbor at Hangar katte – Kodi bengre, Udupi district and for extension of fishing harbour
•Construction of Oceanarium at Pilikula Nisarga Dhama of Dakshina Kannada District Rs.15 crores.
• Distribution of apron hand glove, fibre baskets and other safety equipments costing Rs.1000 each to 10,000 fisher women - Rs.1 crore.

Co-operation

• Disbursement of short term agricultural loans upto Rs.3 lakh at 0% rate of interest and medium term and long term agricultural loans up to Rs.10 lakh at 3% rate of interest to continue. Rs.11,000 crores of agricultural loans to be disbursed to 23 lakh farmers.
• Further extension of Yeshasvini Health Care Scheme benefit - Rs.169.11 crores.
• Computerization of the the Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Societies in the State in the next three years in a phased manner Rs.5 Crores.
• Rejuvenation and strengthening the country's first Co-operative Agriculture Society in Kanaginahala of Gadag district – Rs.1 crores.
• Loan upto Rs.10 lakhs at 3% interest for growing crops in poly houses and for installation of solar pumpsets for which capital subsidy is availabl from GOI. The limit prescribed for this scheme is upto Rs.25 lakhs.
• Waiver of loans amounting to Rs.473.05 lakhs along with interest, availed by Fisheries Cooperative Societies under 1st and 2nd Stage of NCDC Scheme for inland fisheries benefitting 5340 fishermen.
• Conversion of 20% of warehouse capacity of Karnataka State Warehousing Corporation across the state into cold storage with PPP and entrusting its operation and management to private partners industry, providing facilities to enable farmers to get remunerative prices for their produce.
• Installation of solar panels on the roof top of warehouse godowns of KSWC for generation of solar energy with private investment.
• Unified Market System that connected agricultural markets on an electronic platform will be extended to other markets in a phased manner.
• Modernization of sheep and goat markets in 25 major agricultural produce markets to enable “live weight based sale” – Rs.5 crores.
• Establishment of silos in 4 markets for storage of agricultural commodities and silos in 5 markets
on PPP basis with viability gap funding Rs.5 crore.
• Providing modern equipments to vegetable markets - Rs.2 crores.
• Providing pure drinking water facility in 25 rural sub market yards under Grameena Ganga Yojana and establishment of Kiosks to disseminate information in the markets using market funds – Rs.2.5 crores and Rs.1 crores respectively.
• Introduction of zero waste market scheme, Sunday market scheme and establishment of cold storage and irradiation units under RKVY Scheme – Rs.5 crores, Rs.2.5 crores and Rs.16 crores respectively.
• Prominent measure towards women empowerment by increasing women representation in the APMCs from 1 to 3.

Water Resources

Major and Medium Irrigation

• The following Major Irrigation works at an estimated cost of Rs.3,000 crore to be taken up during 2016-17:• Modernization of Kolachi Right Bank Canals
• Modernization of Marehalli Tank Canals
• Development of Harangi Right Bank Canal
• Development of Taraka Right Bank Canal
• Modernization of Hebballa Chennaiah Main Canal
• Modernisation of Distributory Canal No.35 of Hemavathy Right Bank canal
• Improvements of distributaries of Kabini Right bank canal
• Modernization of Shimsha Right Bank Canal
• Modernization of High Level Canal of Nugu
• Modernization of Left Bank Canal of Taraka
• Comprehensive Poorigali Drip/Sprinkler irrigation project
• 16 tanks in Indi taluk of Vijayapura district will be filled by Sanka and Buyyar Projects
• Construction of Kudalasangama Adavihala bridge
• Jattur bridge cum barrage work across Kagina river in Sedam taluk of Kalburagi District
• Nandavadagi Lift irrigation Scheme
• Implementation of Venkateshwara Lift Irrigation Scheme.
• Implementation of Veerabhadreshwara Lift Irrigation Scheme.
• Modernization of Bennetora Project.
• Completion of Karanja and Chulki Projects.
• Modernization Malaprabha Canal works at an estimated cost of Rs.962 crore.
• Constitution of Coordination Committee for the early and effective implementation of Ettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project.
• A separate Corporation for Ettinahole and Upper Bhadra projects.
• Formation of Experts' Committee to study and report on the availability of water from other alternate sources along with Ettinahole project to provide permanent irrigation facility to drought prone areas of Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts.

Minor Irrigation

• Continuation of repair works of feeder canals/ Raja Kaluve through Tank Development Authority for removal of encroachment from lakes.
• Filling up of tanks in Kolar District through lift irrigation after treating sewage water flowing in Koramangala – Challaghatta valley Rs.1280 crore.
• Filling up of selected tanks through LIS in Chikkaballapur and Bangalore Rural districts by treated sewage water flowing through Hebbala valley.
• Filling up of about 60 tanks of Anekal taluk, Bangalore Urban District, by treated water of Bangalore city flowing to South Pinakini through LIS near Muthasandra village.

Forest, Environment and Ecology

• Planting of 5.50 crore saplings and distribution of 2.50 crore saplings.
• Reestablishment of Elephant Corridors by purchasing private lands within forest area Rs.20 crore.
• Rs.5 crore will be provided for LPG connections to general category families residing in sensitive forest areas of Western Ghats and Wildlife Reserve Forests in Chamaraja Nagar and Uttara Kannada Districts initially.
• Establishment of “Sri D. Devaraj Urs Bidiruvana” in 150 acres of forest area near Hunsur, under Tree Park Scheme.
• Assistance to develop Bear Sanctuary in Thimmalapura forest in Madhugiri Taluk of Tumkur district.

Primary and Secondary Education

• Nali Kali', the activity based learning system will be re-organized and implemented comprehensively.
• Activity based learning for mathematics will be expanded to Class 4 and 5.
• Supplementary teaching will be arranged during vacations for students with poor learning achievements in Government schools.
• Launching of IT@Schools in Karnataka', a comprehensive e-content driven programme.
• Streamlining of following programmes with transparent norms, made online and brought under Sakala:
• Registration of schools and colleges.
• Renewal of recognition of schools and colleges for minimum five years.
• Permission for adopting CBSE and ICSE syllabus.
• Recognition or No Objection Certificate for status of minority educational institution.
• Process of reimbursement of expenditure to private schools admitting students under the Right to Education Act.
• System for disclosure of details of teaching and infrastructure resources in all private schools and colleges on a public website.
• Aadhaar enrollment of all students in all schools and colleges including private.
• A three year action plan to bring secondary and pre-university education under single administration.
• Enhancement of monthly honorarium of cooks by Rs.300/- under the Midday Meals scheme.
• Encouragement for Yoga education in all Government schools.

Higher Education

• Introduction of Progressive Karnataka Education Policy'.
• Extension of Jnana Sangama scheme to all the institutions.
• Establishment of Center for Excellence' in VTU, Bangalore University and Tumkur University Rs. 10 crore.
• Establishment of Karnataka Heritage Centre in Karnataka Folklore University - Rs.2 crore.
• Establishment of Government Engineering College in Bidar.
• Establishment of M.M. Kalburgi Research Centre at Karnataka University Dharwad and Institute an award in his name - Rs. 2 crore .

Health and Family Welfare

• Implementation of “Indira Suraksha” Scheme to help the families of farmers who commit suicide.
• Providing hygienic toilets and drinking water facilities in District hospitals and Mother and Child hospitals and “Dormitories” under “Aaraike” scheme.
• The following programmes will be taken up with the assistance of National Health Mission:
• Under Aapathbandhava scheme, setting up of Trauma care centers at 5 places to give emergency treatment to highway accident victims - Rs. 52.96 crore.
• Under “Dialysis Program”, setting up of 25 bed special Dialysis unit in K.C. General Hospital, Bengaluru - Rs. 4.49 Crore.
• Providing of mosquito net and mosquito repellent cream to all pregnant women under “Samagra Mathru Arogya Palana Scheme”.
• Extension of “Mobile Health and Mobike Clinic Services” to the villages which have no hospital and transport facilities.
• Setting up of free Diagnostic Center in Government Hospitals under Free Laboratory Services'.
• Providing free testing and treatment to the students of Government and aided nursery, balavadi and anganavadi schools under Abhaya' scheme.
• Contruction of District Ayush Integrated Hospitals with 50 bed capacity each, in Chikkaballapura, Davangere and with 10 bed capacity each, in Dandeli, Chincholi and T. Narsipur - Rs.6 crore.
• One time grant of Rs.3 crore for the Naturopathy Institute run by R.M.S. Medical Sciences, Hulikote.
• Construction of ladies hostel at Government Pharmacy College, Bengaluru - Rs.8 Crore.
• Establishment of District Hospital in Mysore City - Rs.60 crore.
• Constitution of Organ Donation Facilitation Cell under Jeeva Sarthakathe Scheme. Medical Education
• Opening of new Medical Colleges at Karwar, Chamarajanagar and Madikeri.
Upgradation of Kalburgi Peripheral Cancer Centre - Rs.50 crore.
• Upgradation of basic infrastructure at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital (OPEC), Raichur - Rs.35 crore.
• Establishment of a new Medical college in Bowring and Lady Curzon hospital Campus, Bengaluru with 150 seats.
• Upgradation of DIMHANS under National Mental Health Programme - Rs.46.35 crore with State Government's share of 40%.
• Construction of campus of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences at Archakara Halli, Ramanagara.
• Construction of Gastro Enterology Institute in the premises of SDSTB Centre in Bengaluru Rs.10 crore.
• Establishment of Women and Children Hospital at Kalburgi.

Woman and Child Development and Empowerment of Differently abled and Senior Citizens

• 2 gms of Spirulina per day for a period of 180 days to 25,000 children under Bala Poshaka Scheme - Rs.3.6 crore.
• Providing micronutrients to pregnant and lactating women in backward taluks under Mathru Pushtivardhini Scheme - Rs.42 crore.
• Providing milk with cream to Anganawadi children under Ksheera Bhagya Scheme Rs.42.50 crore.
• Construction of 4,000 Anganawadi buildings.
• Conversion of 10,000 Anganawadi kendras as child friendly centres under Balasnehi Kendras Scheme - Rs.10,000 per centre.
• Enhancement of amount being paid to improve the nutrition level of severely malnourished children from Rs.750 to Rs.2,000 -Rs.3.12 crore.
• Registration of District Sthree Shakthi Groups under Karnataka Cooperative Societies Act, 1960 under Sthree Shakthi Samrudhi Yojane Rs.30 lakhs.
• Enhancement of the amount being paid to children in destitute children kuteera from Rs.400 to Rs.1,000.
• Launching of Women Empowerment Policy.
• A State level resource cell will be setup for senior citizens.
67Budget Highlights 2016-17
• Providing training to educated specially/ differently abled persons for IAS/KAS exams under “Spardha Chetana” scheme - Rs.1 crore.
• Organization of “Arivina Sinchana” programme to create awareness among the guardians of disabled persons – Rs.1.50 crore.
• Rs.4 crore will be provided for the establishment of “Anupalana Gruhas” for care and protection of mentally challenged male and female destitutes.
• Enhancement of an amount of Rs.15,000/- to differently abled persons under “Sadhana Salakarana Yojane” and providing of motor driven two wheelers to additional 2000 severely disabled persons.
• Repair and construction of special school buildings of differently abled persons under Central Government's “Swavalambhana Chhatravas” scheme - Rs.10 crore.
• A grant of Rs.10 crore for 10,000 women running small road side business under “Samruddhi” Scheme.
• Launching of “Sthree Shakthi Skill” Program Rs.2.50 crore.
• Rs.5 crore will be provided under “Dhanshree” scheme, to give loan of Rs.40,000 and subsidy of Rs.10,000 to each beneficiary of HIV affected victims.

Social Welfare

• Celebration of the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on a large scale.
• Enhancement of prevailing monthly food charges by Rs.200/- per student in SC/ST hostels Rs.60 crore.
• Establishment of 100 new post metric hostels to ensure admission to all SC/ST students.
• Establishment of 125 new Residential Schools for SC/ST Boys and Girls at Hoblis not having residential schools.
• Award of Rs.50,000 for SC/ST students who secure 1st to 5th rank, in the post graduation examinations in Arts / Science / Medicine / Engineering / Commerce and Law.
• Providing Shuchi Kits (Soaps, Tooth paste, oil etc.,) to 75,000 post metric hostel inmates.
• Incentive of Rs.50,000/- and Rs.1 lakh to SC/ST students who successfully complete Inter and Final examinations of CA / ICWA / Company Secretary courses.
• Incentive of Rs.20,000/- to the students who secure first class in first attempt in the 3 year Polytechnic Diploma courses.
• Setting up of Maharshi Valmiki Study Centre at Hampi Kannada University to conduct a comprehensive study on Scheduled Tribes of Karnataka.
• Fee prescribed by the Government will be 100% reimbursed to the Engineering and Medical students selected through CET, whose annual income is above Rs.2.5 lakh and below Rs.10 lakh.
• Extension of 4% interest subsidy scheme implemented by KSFC to SC/ST Entrepreneurs to the Nationalized Banks / Apex Banks / DCC Banks. Enhancement of the loan limit to Rs.10 crore - Rs.40 crore provided for this purpose.
• Setting up of a Social Audit Cell to ensure that the benefits of the welfare schemes reach the target groups.
• Establishment of Dr. Babu Jagajivan Ram Research Institute at Destitutes' Rehabilitation Center, Magadi Road, Bangalore.
• Setting up of Memorial of late L.G. Havanur, who toiled for social justice – Rs.1 crore.
• Establishment of a separate Board under Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation for the comprehensive development of people belonging to tribal communities like Koragas, Malaikudiya, Soliga, Jenu Kuruba, Kadu Kuruba, Iruliga etc.

Backward Classes Welfare Department

• Upgradation of 87 pre matric hostels into post metric hostels - Rs.5.67 crore.
• Allocation of Rs.100 crore for the comprehensive development of nomadic/semi nomadic communities like Budabudiki, Bailu Paththar, Bundebestha, Dombidasa, Helava, Gondali, Pichaguntala, Golla etc.
• Upgradation of 37 Ashrama Schools as pre metric hostels.
• Enhancement of monthly food charges by Rs.200 at backward class Ashrama schools, pre / post metric hostels and residential schools and by Rs.200 to students at private aided hostels and orphanages.
• Enhancement of nursing students scholarship from Rs.1,000 to Rs.1,500 p.m.
• Enhancement of monthly stipend from Rs.1,000 to Rs.2,000 to law graduates.
• Enhancement of monthly stipend of Rs.2,000 to all the I.A.S./K.A.S./Banking pre examination training candidates.
• Establishment of 155 residential schools in hoblis having no residential schools - Rs.7.75 crore.
Construction of residential schools and hostels Rs.276.96 crore.
• Development of Bettadatunga and Kallahalli villages, the birth place of D. Devaraj Urs - Rs.20 crore.
• One time incentive of Rs.5 lakh each to provide infrastructure facility in the hostels run by backward classes voluntary service organizations - Rs.12.50 crore.
• Development of Madivala, Savitha Samaja, Thigala, Kumbara and Uppara communities with Rs.10 crore to each community - Rs.50 crore.
• Allocation of Rs.10 crore for the economic empowerment of the youth in the most backward taluks.
• Entrepreneurship training to be imparted to 30,000 beneficiaries - Rs.5 crore. Minorities Welfare and Haj
• Infrastructure development works in minority colonies - Rs.100 crore.
• Organization of mentor leadership and capacity building programme for youth from minority communities - Rs.13 crore.
• Modernization of Madarasas and providing formal and computer education - Rs.50 crore.
• Establishment of 10 hostel / residential school/ residential colleges under MSDP scheme.
• Establishment of 6 Morarji Desai Residential Schools, 10 post matric hostels and 2 minority Girls' Residential PU colleges.
• Upgradation of 20 pre matric hostels as post matric hostels.
• Enhancement of food allowance for each student of all pre matric and post matric Residential School/ Colleges by Rs.200.
• Rs.3 crore for providing educational infrastructure facilities to Jamia-Ul-Ulam Educational Institution, K.R. Market, Bangalore, and Rs.3 crore to Beary Association, Bangalore, to construct Souharda Bhavan.
• Fellowship to minority students pursuing Ph.D. and M.Phil., courses in subjects relating to minorities. Establishment of Research Center at Mohammed Gavan Library, Bidar.
• A Chair will be set up at Kalburgi University for religious minorities.
• Chief Minister's Incentive Prize Money of Rs.10,000 and Rs.20,000 to 500 SSLC and Second PU students scoring highest marks respectively.
• Rs.125 crore for the development of Christian community.
• Extension of the facility of payment of fee to nursing course students belonging to Muslim, Christian, Jain, Sikh, and Budhist Community studying in Government/Private colleges.
• Financial assistance for the reconstruction of Buddhist Vihars (Temples).
• C.A. site under BDA limits to Anglo Indian community to construct Community Hall. Rs.2 crore for the development of the community.
• Rs.50 crore for the completion of Shadi Mahals under construction.
• Rs.50 crore for Bidhayi Scheme.
• Rs.5 crore to develop Jain Basadis.
• Rs.25 crore to complete the construction of Haj Bhavan.

Housing

• 6 lakh beneficiaries will be selected at the same time as per the targets fixed for the years 2016-17 and 2017-18 under different schemes. Construction of 3 lakh houses will be completed during the year 2016-17.
Unit cost under Vajapayee Urban Housing Scheme for 40,000 houses will be increased to Rs.3.5 lakhs.
• 10,000 sites in rural areas and 10,000 sites in urban areas will be distributed to site-less poor beneficiaries.

Labour, Employment & Training

• “Accident Life Saver Scheme” proposed to be implemented with an aid of Rs.1 Crore to train 12 lakh auto drivers in first-aid.
• Rs. 5 crore allocated for Establishment of “Devraj Urs Skill Development and Vocational Training Research Institute”.
• Rs. 2 Crores grants to provide pre-recruitment training to 1500 Kannadiga candidates to join Military and Para-Military forces.

Kannada & Culture

• To commemorate 60th Anniversary of unification of Karnataka World Kannada Conference will be organized. For this purpose Rs.30 crores will be provided.
• Rs.2.5 crore for preservation and protection of important writings in Kannada, their digitization and publication through web-site.
• Rs.2.5 crores will be earmarked for research with regard to contribution of Basel Missionary to Kannada to be taken up through Karnataka Theological College.
• International Museum of Konkani Culture to be set up at Mangaluru at a cost of Rs.2.5 crore.
• Museums will be set up at Bidar and Bagalkot at a cost of Rs.1 crore.
• Rs. 1 crore is earmarked to convert and modernize Heritage Building of the period of Nawabs into museum in Savanuru of Savanuru taluk in Haveri District.
• Preservation of 47 monument complexes of Rastrakootas located at Shiravala, Shahapur Taluk of Yadgir District at a cost of Rs.3 crore.
• Rs. 3 crore for preservation and development of Belagavi Fort.
• Rs. 1 crore for development of Chamarajeshwara Temple in Chamarajanagar .
• Rs. 1 crore for digitization of the important records of the then office of the Chief Commissioner of Kodagu.
• Rs. 2 crore grant allocated to Karnataka Janapada Parishat.
• Rs. 1 crore is allotted for the installation of Statue of Maharshi Valmiki in Bengaluru.
• Grant of Rs. 3 crore will be provided every year for the development of Devara Hipparagi, birth place of Madivala Machi Devaru.
• Mahaveer Jayanthi to be celebrated by the Government from this year.
• Rs.25 crore is allocated to Gadinadu Abhivrudhi Pradhikara.

Sports and Youth Services

• Rs. 3.60 crore allocated to encourage Kabaddi and other popular rural sports.
• Rs. 3 crore grants for State level sports meet conducted by Karnataka Olympic Association for all disciplines of Olympics of all age groups.
• Play grounds with facilities like Volleyball, Kabaddi, Kho-Kho and Throw ball courts will be developed in selected villages. The department will form Yuva Kreeda Sanghas in villages and provide sports equipments.
• Rs. 3.5 crore allocated for a upgradation of Hockey Stadium in Bengaluru.
• Rs.3 crore allocated for systematic maintenance and upgradation of Sri Kanteerava Stadium.
Rs. 6 crore is allocated to establish water adventure sports centre in coastal region.
• Rs. 2.5 crore allocated to 50 more traditional wrestling houses (Garadi Mane) at Rs.5 lakh for each wrestling house.
• Free travel facility in Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation Buses for sports person of the State, receiving Arjuna Award/Dronacharya Award/Rajeev Khel Ratna Award.

Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs

• The process of accepting new applications for ration cards online and validating these applications by collecting the EPIC/ Aadhar numbers to ensure benefits to the genuine beneficiaries.
• Handheld point of Sale (PoS) machines will be installed in Fair Price Shops of Udupi district on a pilot basis.
• Rules will be framed to conduct social audit to implement Targeted PDS and with regard to functioning of Fair Price Shops.
• National Level Consumer Research and Training Center will be established in Dharwad.
• 77 “Research and Development Center” for Legal Metrology will be built with a grant of Rs. 1 Crore from the Central Government.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj

• Allocation for development of rural roads increased to Rs. 3,609 crore.
• With 20 K.M. road to every Legislative Assembly Constituency, in 189 Rural Legislative Assembly Constituencies under Namma Grama Namma Raste (Gandhi Patha Grama Patha) Scheme Stage-IV with construction of 6 Kms and 3 Kms roads respectively in the villages where Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population is concentrated.
• Multiple village water supply scheme, Bore wells, Water filter and other works will be taken up at a cost of Rs.1980 crore.
• Academic activities of Rural Development University will commence from this academic year.
• Development of Heritage Villages that depict Karnataka's past glory to be taken up with an allocation of Rs.10 crore.
• Rs.10 Crores to convert Rural Development and Panchayatraj Secretariat and 30 Zilla Panchayat offices into less paper offices.
• Installation of Solar water pumping in selected 100 Grama Panchayats.
• Infrastructure for village shandys will be developed in 500 large Grama Panchayats at a cost of Rs. 25 crore.
• Compendium of the history of each village to be brought out in collaboration with Karnataka Janapada Vishwa Vidyalaya.
• To plant road saplings by road side along 3,000 Km road in the name of Salumarada Thimmakka Neralu Scheme.
• New Horticulture areas will be developed in 10,000 acres u

Comments

P.Ramachandran
 - 
Sunday, 27 Mar 2016

Please let me know whether there is any huike in tourist bus entry tax in Karnataka wef 1.4.2016.Here tourist bus operators say that entry tax for ever passenger has been increased to Rs.1000/- from existing Rs.330 wef 1.4.2016.I appeal for a kind clarification

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News Network
February 28,2020

The Karnataka BJP, which faced action on Twitter earlier this month over incendiary tweets, this time has passed the blame of Sangh Parivar sponsored Delhi violence to the victims.

In an insensitive tweet on Friday, it dubbed the protests against the notorious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as "fake" and added that the violence that followed was "the most well-planned assault on the Idea of India," in an apparent attempt to portray the victims as villains.

The handle, notorious for tweets targeting Muslims, blamed the clashes that erupted in Delhi between people demonstrating for and against the CAA on "so called 'Peacefuls'" - a known right-wing slur for Muslims.

Many people on social media called out the tweet for misleading people and covering up the role of Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra's provocative speech for triggering the violence or the failure of the Delhi Police, which reports to the former BJP chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in controlling the riots.

Earlier this month, the Karnataka BJP had tweeted a video of Muslim women standing in queue to vote in the Delhi elections, showing their voter ID cards, with the snarky caption: "Keep the documents safe, you will need to show them again during NPR (National Population Register) exercise."

Soon after, the party unit's Twitter handle was blocked by the social media platform for 24 hours after many accused it of encouraging Islamophobia.

NPR has been widely criticised by opposition parties as a precursor to the government's planned NRC or National Register of Citizens which intends to make Indians prove their citizenship with documents that many poor or illiterate do not possess.

Many fear that combined with the already imposed CAA - which promises citizenship to only non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh - the NRC can be used to make millions of Muslims stateless.

The government has denied the allegation and said the CAA only intends to help those who have faced religious persecution. In recent weeks, it has gone back on its rhetoric on the NRC which was announced by Amit Shah in parliament as "it will certainly happen".

The CAA, which was cleared by parliament in December, has triggered deadly protests in the country which left at least 25 dead till Sunday. Since then, at least 42 more people have been killed as large-scale violence erupted in northeast Delhi and hundreds of homes and shops have been burned to the ground.

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June 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 18: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominated Prathap Simha Nayak, M.T.B. Nagaraj, R. Shankar and Sunil Valyapure to contest in the June 29 biennial elections for 4 of the 7 Karnataka legislative Council seats, an official said.

"Our high command selected 3 of the 4 candidates the state core committee recommended on Tuesday, excluding H.R. Vishwanath, a former Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rebel, who lost in the December 5 Assembly by-elections from Hunsur in Mysuru district on a BJP ticket," a party official said.

Nagaraj, a former Congress rebel, who also lost in the Assembly by-election from Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district on a BJP ticket, was the state housing minister in the 14-month-old JD-S-Congress coalition government, which fell on July 23, 2019 after 17 of their rebels resigned then.

Shankar, who was an Independent and a minister in the former coalition government, was not given the BJP ticket to contest in the December Assembly bypolls though he too resigned from the Ranebennur assembly seat in Haveri district, about 340km northwest of Bengaluru, along with former Congress and JD-S rebels.

Valyapure is the party's grass-root leader from Chincholi in Gulbarga district in the state's northern region, about 586km from Bengaluru.

Valyapure extensively campaigned in the May 2019 general elections and ensured the victory of BJP candidate Umesh Yadav from the reserved Gulbarga Lok Sabha seat, defeating Congress senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

Nayak is also the party's grassroot cadre who rose from the ranks to become its Dakshina Kannada district president in the state's coastal region.

As the ruling party has 116 legislators in the 225-member Assembly, all its 4 candidates will need 28 votes each to win the contest.

Of the 7 outgoing Council members, 5 are from the Congress and one each from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and an Independent.

With 68 lawmakers, the Congress will be able to retain 2 seats and the JD-S one as it has only 34 legislators in the lower house.

The Congress has nominated its outgoing Rajya Sabha member B.K. Hariprasad and outgoing Council member Naseer Ahmed to contest for 2 Council seats.

Of the 75-member Council, the opposition Congress has 37, BJP 19, JD-S 16, two Independents and one Chairman.

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News Network
April 29,2020

Washington, Apr 29: A US government panel on Tuesday called for India to be put on a religious freedom blacklist over a "drastic" downturn under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggering a sharp rebuttal from New Delhi.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommends but does not set policy, and there is virtually no chance the State Department will follow its lead on India, an increasingly close US ally.

In an annual report, the bipartisan panel narrowly agreed that India should join the ranks of "countries of particular concern" that would be subject to sanctions if they do not improve their records.

"In 2019, religious freedom conditions in India experienced a drastic turn downward, with religious minorities under increasing assault," the report said.

It called on the United States to impose punitive measures, including visa bans, on Indian officials believed responsible and grant funding to civil society groups that monitor hate speech.

The commission said that Modi's Hindu nationalist government, which won a convincing election victory last year, "allowed violence against minorities and their houses of worship to continue with impunity, and also engaged in and tolerated hate speech and incitement to violence."

It pointed to comments by Home Minister Amit Shah, who notoriously referred to mostly Muslim migrants as "termites," and to a citizenship law that has triggered nationwide protests.

It also highlighted the revocation of the autonomy of Kashmir, which was India's only Muslim-majority state, and allegations that Delhi police turned a blind eye to mobs who attacked Muslim neighborhoods in February this year.

Coronavirus state-wise India update: Total number of confirmed cases, deaths on April 29

The Indian government, long irritated by the commission's comments, quickly rejected the report.

"Its biased and tendentious comments against India are not new. But on this occasion, its misrepresentation has reached new levels," foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said.

"We regard it as an organization of particular concern and will treat it accordingly," he said in a statement.

The State Department designates nine "countries of particular concern" on religious freedom -- China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

The commission asked that all nine countries remain on the list. In addition to India, it sought the inclusion of four more -- Nigeria, Russia, Syria and Vietnam.

Pakistan, India's historic rival, was added by the State Department in 2018 after years of appeals by the commission.

In its latest report, the commission said that Pakistan "continued to trend negatively," voicing alarm at forced conversions of Hindus and other minorities, abuse of blasphemy prosecutions and a ban on the Ahmadi sect calling itself Muslim.

India's citizenship law fast-tracks naturalization for minorities from neighbouring countries -- but not if they are Muslim.

Modi's government says it is not targeting Muslims but rather providing refuge to persecuted people and should be commended.

But critics consider it a watershed move by Modi to define the world's largest democracy as a Hindu nation and chip away at independent India's founding principle of secularism.

Tony Perkins, the commission's chair, called the law a "tipping point" and voiced concern about a registry in the northeastern state of Assam, under which 1.9 million people failed to produce documentation to prove that they were Indian citizens before 1971 when mostly Muslim migrants flowed in during Bangladesh's bloody war of independence.

"The intentions of the national leaders are to bring this about throughout the entire country," Perkins told an online news conference.

"You could potentially have 100 million people, mostly Muslims, left stateless because of their religion. That would be, obviously, an international issue," said Perkins, a Christian activist known for his opposition to gay rights who is close to President Donald Trump's administration.

Three of the nine commissioners dissented -- including another prominent Christian conservative, Gary Bauer, who voiced alarm about India's direction but said the ally could not be likened to non-democracies such as China.

"I am deeply concerned that this public denunciation risks exactly the opposite outcome than the one we all desire," Bauer said.

Trump, who called for a ban on Muslim immigration to the US when he ran for president, hailed Modi on a February visit to New Delhi.

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