Sops galore for backward classes, dalits, minorities in Karnataka budget 2018-19

coastaldigest.com news network
February 16, 2018

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has made significant allocations for the welfare of the backward classes, dalits and religious minorities  (Ahinda communities) in the 2018-19 annual budget.

Mr. Siddaramaiah, in the last budget of his government tenure, offered several sops to various small and marginal communities, including free bus passes for all students from 2018-19.

The budget proposed to waive loans up to Rs 50,000 availed by shepherds from cooperative banks (Rs 52 crore total) and loans availed by below poverty line (BPL) families from Karnataka Khadi Board.

He also announced providing loans up to Rs 50,000 at zero per cent interest for fishermen and increase of old age pension from Rs 500 to Rs 600 for the benefit of 48 lakh senior citizens and destitute.

The Chief Minister, who overall presented his 13th State budget, said the current budget aimed at building Nava Karnataka to realise the new aspirations in the coming days.

Siddaramaiah provided many incentives for people belonging to Ahinda in a move to prevent youth from backward classes and Dalit communities from supporting the BJP.

For the first time, the budget’s total receipts are estimated at Rs 2,02,297 crore in 2018-19. The fiscal deficit is expected to be Rs 35,127 crore, which is 2.49% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Total liabilities are at Rs 2,86,790 crore at the end of 2018-19, 20.36% of the GSDP. “This is within the limit of 25% for 2018-19 mandated in the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act.”

The GSDP in 2017-18 has increased to 8.5% against 7.5% in 2016-17. In this year 2017-18, the agriculture sector is expected to grow by 4.9%, industry by 4.9%, while the service sector is expected to register a growth of 10.4%.

Noting that there was a possibility of shortfall in tax collections in the short run, frequent changes in the FST regime and glitches in the IT system have also affected the tax collection, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

The Budget proposed to give a boost to organic farming, millet crops, groundnut and “Direct Seed Rice” cultivation methods. The allocation for agriculture is set at ₹5,849 crore in 2018-19.

To mobilise additional revenue, the Budget proposed to increase the existing rates of excise duty on Indian Made Liquor by 8%.

The Budget proposes new State Fodder Security Policy, new Textile Policy, Feature Film Tourism Policy, Logistic Policy, Innovation Policy, and Policy for Labour Intensive Industries. It has also proposed to establish “Nirbhaya Kendras” in all offices of Police Commissioners in the State.

The Budget has also proposed to provide 4% reservation in Group A and B posts to persons having disability as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The government has already reserved 5% in Group C and D posts.

Also Read: 

CM announces free LGP gas connections for 30 lakh poor; health scheme for all

Siddaramaiah presents Nava Karnataka Budget 2018: Key highlights

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News Network
February 27,2020

Kalaburagi, Feb 27: Kalaburagi police has issued notice to AIMIM leader Waris Pathan to appear before the investigation officer to give his statement in connection to the controversial statement that he recently made during an anti-CAA rally.

"We have already served notice to appear and the date is 29th. He is supposed to give his statement. Some people have already recorded their statements," said Kalaburagi Police Commissioner MM Nagaraj.

Recently while addressing an anti-CAA rally in Kalaburagi, the AIMIM leader had said: "Time has now come for us to unite and achieve freedom. Remember we are 15 crores but can dominate over 100 crores."

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News Network
February 6,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 6: A 33 -year-old techie who was on the run after allegedly bludgeoning her mother to death and attempting to murder her brother at their house near KR Puram early on Sunday was arrested along with her friend from a hotel in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on Wednesday morning.

C Amruta and Sridhar Rao were produced before a court in Port Blair to get a transit warrant, deputy commissioner of police (Whitefield) MN Anuchet said. Police initially thought she had committed the crime as she was unable to repay a loan of Rs 15 lakh and feared being humiliated by the lenders.

"But now we strongly suspect that Amruta and Rao were in a relationship, which was opposed by her mother and brother. We don't see any other reason for her to attack her family members. We can get more details only after questioning the duo," another police officer said, adding, "The most important question is: Did Rao know Amruta was going to kill her mother? Or he got to know about it only later? He'd booked their air tickets to Port Blair on January 31 itself."

Rao and Amruta worked together in a software company in Whitefield till 2017. "Then they joined different firms and were in constant touch," police said.

Preliminary probe revealed the duo flew to Port Blair by catching a flight from Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) at 6.30am on Sunday. CCTV footage had shown Rao - wearing a full-face helmet and carrying a backpack - waiting near Amruta's house on a gearless scooter on Sunday morning. After she arrived, they chatted for a while before riding away. They arrived at KIA on the same bike, police said.

"We checked the passengers' list at KIA for that day and found Amruta's name. With the help of Port Blair police, we traced the duo to a hotel," an investigating officer said.

On Sunday morning, Amruta hit her 54-year-old mother C Nirmala on the head with a digging bar. She later stabbed her younger brother C Harish in the neck. Harish collapsed and thinking that he was dead, she left the house.

In his statement to police, Harish stated, "Around 4.30am, Amruta entered my room and stabbed me. I asked her what was wrong. She said she had a debt of Rs 15 lakh and didn't want the debtors to harass me and our mother."

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News Network
May 19,2020

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh), May 19: Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa asking Muslims to offer their Eid prayers this time at home, instead of congregating at mosques.

The directive comes amid a nationwide lockdown to slow down the spread of coronavirus.

Despite the relaxations announced in the lockdown, religious and other large gatherings are still banned.

The fatwa was issued in response to a query put to the seminary, its spokesman Ashraf Usmani said.

The fatwa said the Eid namaz can be offered in the same manner that the Friday prayers are now being read at home.

It said not holding the namaz in the usual manner is pardonable in circumstances such as these.

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