Springboard to a glittering tomorrow

B. S. Yeddyurappa

At an epochal moment one hundred days ago, our government sprang to life with a bow to the people of Karnataka and a vow  to meet their  aspirations.  One  hundred  days  may appear  too  short  a period  as  a  yardstick  to assess  a  government’s  achievements  but,  I feel,  it  is enough  to serve as an  indicator of  the thrust  and  pace  of  the  administration’s endeavours.

My fellow-citizens of Karnataka, you installed us  in office with complete  trust  in us and hope in our ability  to  take  the state  forward, after your  disillusionment  with  successive  ruling administrations  of  the  past.  Your  trust  and hope encase us as a protective citadel and we, on our par t, will never  let you down. You  the  people  have  observed  the  path  our government has  trodden  from  the moment  I took  the  oath  of  office  in  the  name  of  the farmers, on 30 May 2008.   You are aware of the efforts we put  in  to surmount  the crisis arising out of  the  fer tiliser short age  right at  the dawn  of  our  administration. We  have  taken other  bold  measures  to  wipe  the  farmers’ tears.  Ours  is  a  government  that  evinces genuine concern for the farmers’ welfare. We have  been  at   the  foref ront   in  the implementation  of  pro-farmer  programmes and have been viewed as a model  for others.

I believe in all sincerity that you the people of the  state  have  endorsed  the  budget  I presented on 17 July 2008. I feel in fact that he  pragmatic  budget  has  been  able  to enhance  the confidence  that you  reposed  in us. I traveled across the state to elicit farmers’ views, hear their grievances and obtain their suggestions to incorporate in the budget. This was  a  testimony  to  our  desire  to  serve  the farming community  in  its entirety.

Our budget also incorporated 90 per cent of the  promises  we  made  in  ‘Sankalpa’  our election manifesto. The budget amply reflects your expectations and aspirations. The onus of implementing the projected measures lies now on our shoulders.

Esteemed  friends,  the  legislature passed  the budget on 31st July 2008. Within the span of 40  days  since  then, we  have  been  able  to begin  implementation  of  most  of  the programmes cited in the budget. This is truly hear tening, considering  the pace at which a government  normal ly  functions.  The members  of  my  Cabinet  and  the  entire administrat ion  have  enabled  me  to accompl ish  this  task.   I   extend  my congratulations  to all of  them.

I  had  given  an  assurance  at  a  meeting  of senior  officers  called  to  streamline  the administration that I would submit a progress repor t of  the government’s  functioning once  in every hundred days. This, under  the  title of ‘Springboard  for a glittering  future’  is  the  first of  such repor ts, It points the direction in which our government will move forward in the next five years. I feel enthralled that we have been able to take up so many diverse programmes for implementation in a mere hundred days. I am  amazed  too  that  we  have  achieved  so much despite the obstacles we encountered in our path.

The steps that our government has initiated to ensure  that we  transform  your  expectations into  concrete  benefits  have  insti l led confidence  in  me.  Our  admirers  who  have described us have employed encomiums like ‘hundred  and one  days    hundreds of  steps’ which might appear as enthusiastic but such expressions cer tainly are no exaggeration.

Numerous programmes we have launched in the  fields  of  agriculture,  education, infrastructure and urban development under our resolve to create a prosperous Karnataka are  taking shape satisfactorily. Our pro-people measures  are  directly  benefiting  the  under- privileged  sections  of  society,  farmers, women  and  chi ldren,   enabl ing  the development of these groups. The decisions we have reached, the stands we have taken, the  directives we  have  issued  and  the  task forces we have set up are all ecorded  in black and white.

Amid all  the bouquets of achievements, one sore  spot  causes  me  both  concern  and anguish.  According  to  a  recent  survey,  Karnataka bears the blemish of a high degree of  corruption.  This  is  a  legacy  from successive  governments  over  the  decades. To wipe out  this black mark and provide an able,  honest  and  transparent  administration will be our prime priority.

For me,  dear  friends,  the  completion  of  an eventful  100  days  in  office  is  truly unforgettable.  This  brief  repor t  of  our administrative progress invigorates me. I am deeply  indebted  to all of you who have directly and  indirectly  helped me  to  attain  this  lofty level of confidence and  resolve.

9th September 2008
Bangalore
(B S YEDDYURAPPA)
Chief Minister of Karnataka

New Chapter Towards The Agricultural Growth

CM with Farmers	Dialogues initiated by the CM with farmers at the State and Divisional level and their suggestions given prominence in the Budget.
Free Power supply provided for irrigation pumpsets upto 10 HP from 1.8.2008, benefitting 17 lakh farmers.	Pumpset
Fisherman	Weavers
Co-Operatives’ loans of Rs.1035 Crore at 3% interest to benefit nearly 4 lakh farmers, weavers and fishermen.
Rain Fed Cultivation	A special grant of Rs. 1000/- each for small and marginal farmers dependent on rain-fed cultivation covering 50 Lakh families.
Financial suppor t of Rs.150 Crore provided to the State Co Operative Marketing Federation to procure fer tilizers for distribution to farmers.
Loan waiver scheme extended to farmers who received benefit under Crop Insurance scheme also; Rs. 22 Crore sanctioned for the purpose.
Minimum Suppor t Price for Maize increased from Rs.620 to Rs. 650. “Karnataka Organic Farming Mission” established,	Maize
Hor ticulture College established in Bagalkot.
e-Tendering launched for marketing of agricultural produce in Raichur and Davanagere APMCs.
Arrangements made for the display of information about quality and price of agricultural produce through electronic media in 50 APMCs in the State.
Organic Farming	Establishment of a Mission for promoting Organic Farming.
Rs. 2/- per litre incentive to rural women for the milk supplied to the Co-Operative Societies.	Rural women with Cow

New Irrigation Schemes Sanctioned

Upper Bhadra	Upper Bhadra Project approved at an estimated cost of Rs. 3388 Crore. Dandavati Irrigation scheme of Sorab Taluka costing Rs. 202 Crore approved. Payment of Rs. 206 Crore towards long pending land acquisition cases of Upper Krishna Project settled in Lok Adalats.
Upper Bhadra	Rehabilitation of the people of 26 affected villages under Hippargi project sanctioned at a cost of Rs. 555 Crore. To over come the water scarcity in the drought affected villages of Jagalur and Harapanahalli Taluks, a scheme has been initiated to fill 22 tanks and Hagari Bommanahalli reservoir by lifting water from Tunga Bhadra river at a cost of Rs.100 Crore.
Dandavati	The scheme prepared by the exper ts for utilization of water of the west flowing rivers by name SOUBHAGYA SANJEEVINI accepted and approval given for the preparation of detailed project report. On the lines of Brindavan Gardens at KRS, work has been sanctioned for BHADRAVANA at the down stream of Bhadra Dam at a cost of Rs.21.5 Crore.
Shipping	Rs. 25 Crore subsidy released to farmers under the Hor ticulture Mission. Subsidised Diesel for motorized boats increased to 75,000 Kilo Liters. Total VAT exemption for ice used for storage of fish.

Towards A Better Environment

Green Village “Prosperous Green Village” Scheme launched
Western Ghat	Western Ghat
Establishment of a task force for Western Ghat Conservation and Development
Distribution of Sandal Wood saplings to the farmers	Sandal Wood

Special Attention To Social Welfare

Bhagya Lakshmi	Bhagya Lakshmi Initial Deposit under Bhagya Lakshmi Scheme for girls doubled with maturity value of Rs. 1 Lakh.
Assistance of Rs. 2 Lakh to women victims of acid attack.
Rs. 8 Crore sanctioned for providing Suppor tive aids and Equipment to Physically Handicapped persons.	Physically Handicapped
Senior Citizens	Over 2 Lakh Senior Citizens sanctioned pension under “Sandhya Suraksha Scheme.” Women Self Help groups to get loans at 6% p.a.
Monthly pension of Rs. 1000/- to persons with more than 75% disability.
Diet allowance to Pre Metric students of SC, ST and OBC hostels increased from Rs. 450 to Rs. 650 per month.Diet allowance for post metric students and Morarji Desai Residential Schools increased from Rs.500 to Rs.650 per month.	Pre Metric Students
Housing Board	Karnataka Housing Board reserves 20% houses for economically weaker sections in all its new housing projects and will allot at 50% of the cost.Construction of 3,000 houses in 13 cities by the Slum Clearance Board.
Unit cost of houses under Rural Ashraya Scheme, enhanced from Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000.	Rural Ashraya Scheme
National Rural Employment	Under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the daily wage increased from Rs. 74 to Rs.82.
Rs. 500 Lakh sanctioned for the developmental activities of Uppara Samaj and Rs. 125 Lakh released
Rs.301 Lakh sanctioned for the development of Savita Samaj and Rs.75 Lakh released.
25% concession in the bus fare for senior citizens above 65 years.	Senior Citizen

Priority For Education

Free Bicycle	Distribution of 7 Lakh free bicycles to 8th standard students of both Government and Private Aided Schools.
“School Academic Programme” star ted to enhance the quality of education.	Free Bicycle
ITIs	10 new ITIs sanctioned.
“Karnataka Knowledge Commission” established to enhance knowledge capital and research.
Daily per capita expenditure under mid day meal scheme enhanced from Rs.1.61 to Rs.1.80, benefitting over 70 lakh students.	Mid Day Meal
Mid Day Meal	Honorarium to cooks under the mid day meal scheme increased by Rs. 100 to Rs.150, benefitting 90,000 cooks.
The Grant in Aid for private Primary Schools, High schools and Pre-University colleges extended for a fur ther two years covering institutions started in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Educational Loans at 6% rate of interest for pursuing Higher Education.	Higher Education
Special pay scales for Primary School teachers.

Health Sector

Medical Equipments	Medical Equipments
Rs. 400 Lakhs released for building 2 new trauma care centers at Victoria and Bowring Hospitals; Rs. 400 Lakh released for purchase of medical equipment.
New Dental College opened at Bellary in 2008-09.New Nursing College opened at Bellary in 2008-09.	New Hospitals
Medical Students	Substantial increase in seats in Post Graduate Medical Education – benefitting 2055 students.
MOU signed for providing emergency ambulance services under the scheme “Arogya Kavacha”	Ambulance
Special Grant of Rs. 36.5 Crore sanctioned for KIMS, Hubli and Rs. 5.75 Crore released.

Priority For Drinking Water

Kalasa Nala	Diversion of water from Kalasa Nala to Malaprabha river at a cost of Rs.55 Crore approved to supply water to Hubli – Dharwad.
Rs. 825 Crore sanctioned for Rural Water Supply scheme; Rs. 350 crore already released.	Rural Water Supply
Indi lift irrigation scheme to irrigate 37800 hectares in Sindgi Taluk of Bijapur District and 4000 hectares of Surpura taluk of Gulbarga District completed and the water released on a trial basis.
Medium Irrigation Schemes	The financial progress of Major and Medium Irrigation schemes under SCP and TSP is Rs. 1059 Lakhs.
Rs 100 Crore sanctioned to BWSSB to augment drinking water supply and to improve drainage system in the newly added area of BBMP; Rs 33 Crore released	BWSSB
Drinking Water	Drinking Water
New water supply schemes approved for Muddebihal (Rs.14 Crore), Gurumitkal (Rs. 35 Crore), Sagar (Rs. 40 Crore) and Gauribidanur (Rs. 5 Crore).

Urban Development

Mysore Palace	Belgaum, Gulbarga and Mysore with the people’s representatives, prominent citizens and experts for the city development and Budgetary provisions made on their suggestions.
Comprehensive Development Plans approved for Jamakhandi, Gokak, Sirsi, Birur , Udupi- Malpe, Davanagere- Harihara, Sagar and Kampli.	Cart
City Corporations	Implementation & monitoring committees under the Chairmanship of district in – charge Ministers constituted for 7 City Corporations for special developmental works.
Rs. 802 Crore sanctioned for the construction of 33,000 houses in 152 slum areas of 27 cities through Slum clearance Board. A sum of Rs. 177 Cr is already released and works have been kicked off.
Rs. 50 Core each sanctioned for 7 City Corporations (Mysore, Mangalore, Davanagere, Bellary, Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum and Gulbarga) and Rs.17 Crore each released (a total of Rs 119 Crore released).

New Thrust For Development Of Bangalore

ABIDe	A Special Task Force (ABIDe) constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister for the Infrastructure Development of Bangalore.
Lake Development Authority has initiated survey to prepare a Master Plan for the development of 231 lakes in Bangalore.	Lake in Bangalore
To streamline Bangalore city traffic, 60 New traffic signals erected and 120 traffic signals synchronized.
Roads in Bangalore	Rs. 300 Crore sanctioned for the improvement of 1187 Roads in Bangalore city and Rs. 110 Crore released
BBMP has taken up widening of 23 roads at a cost of Rs. 110 Crore.
Rs. 700 Crore sanctioned by BDA for the improvement of 1550 roads in the newly added areas of BBMP .
Traffic In Bangalore	To ease the Traffic Congestion in the Central Business District, it has been decided to shift the Bangalore Race Course to outskir ts.
Rs. 32 Crore sanctioned for the establishment of Traffic Management Center and the construction of the building launched.	Traffic In Bangalore
Establishment of Traffic and Transpor t Management Centers at Shanthi Nagar , Yashwanthapur , Kengeri, Koramangala and White Field initiated.
Fire Station	New Traffic Police Station and Fire Station star ted at Electronics City .
Expression of Interest invited for high speed rail link project from City Centre to Bangalore International Air Port.
Preparation of DPR for Phase – II	DPR
Rs. 700 Crore sanctioned for Namma Metro and Rs. 293Crore spent in the last 100 days, which is 40% of the total expenditure since the commencement of the Project.

Infrastructure Development

Land for Shimoga Airport	Foundation stone laid for Shimoga Air Port
Foundation stone laid for Gulbarga Air Port	Gulbarga Air Port
The Air Force Air Port at Bidar proposed to be used for Civilian Aviation and Rs. 3 Crore sanctioned for terminal building by the State Government.
Construction of air Strips at Raichur , Bagalkot, Davanagere and Kushala Nagar sanctioned.
Approval given for the development of Por ts at Karwar , Honnavar and Malpe on PPP basis.
Rs. 25 Crore sanctioned for providing the basic amenities to the lakhs of pilgrims visiting Bidar during the Gur-Ta- Gaddi celebrations. Rs. 15 Crore already released.
MOU signed for establishing 2000 MW power station (I Phase 1000 MW) at Chattisgarh to augment power availability in the State.
Power Station	Approval for 3 solar power generation units of 3 MW each at Kolar , Raichur and Belgaum Districts by KPCL
Rs. 50 Crore sanctioned for NWKRTC and Rs. 25   Crore released.	NWKRTC
Rs.108 Crore sanctioned for Bus Station at Mysore under JNNURM Project. Approvals accorded for the improvement of Bus Stations and Depots at Harappanahalli, Karwar , Kumpta, Gokak, Jeevargi, Raichur , Kudatini, Gabbur , Bhalki, Nellacheruvu, Yadagiri and Shimoga.
State Transport	State Transport Corporation inducted 492 new buses in 100 days.
Rs. 221.62 Crore allocated under the CM’s Rural Road Development Scheme and Rs. 41.41 Crore is already released.	Roads
Construction of Truck Terminal at Mysore initiated.
Rs. 2 Corers sanctioned for Aryabhata IT Park at Hubli and Rs. 1 Crore released.
The New 500 MW Thermal power plant at Bellary commissioned and now generating 350 MW power .
Rs. 150 Crore spent for the maintenance and development of Roads of Public Works Depar tment.
Rs. 100 Crore spent by PWD for the construction of Government Buildings.

Kannada And Culture

Kannada Film Industry	100% Tax exemptions for all Kannada Films (except dubbed films).
Rs. 1 Crore released for the construction of Dr .Rajkumar Memorial	Dr.Rajkumar
	Special Cell established to assist Non Resident Kannadigas / Indians.
Construction of Kannada Bhavanas initiated at Athani, Sedam, Mulabagal and Kollegal	Kannada Bhavana

New Vision To Administration

Vidhana Soudha	A vision group “Karnataka 2020″ constituted under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister to guide integrated development and long term planning of the State.
“Government at the door steps of the People” Janaspandana on every Saturday at Hobli level to commence from 20th September .	CM with People
“Karnataka Public Lands Nigam” established to protect and ensure proper utilization of the Governement Lands.
Women belonging to minority community nominated to State and District Wakf Boards for the first time. 5 new Morarji Desai Residential schools and 25 hostels for the students star ted for the improvement of educational standards of the minorities.
A Committee established to protect and ensure proper usage of the proper ties of the Wakf Board.Distribution of loans to 5000 beneficiaries amounting to Rs.8.55 Crore by Minority Development Corporation.
Tatkal Phodi scheme star ted to dispose off long pending Phodi cases.
High Cour t Circuit Benches star ted functioning at Dharwad and Gulbarga.
CM with Senior Officers	An interactive session with senior Government Officers (Chintana Manthana) held to get innovative ideas to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of administration; some suggestions from this workshop being implemented
Over 90,000 Gram Panchayat Members to get monthly Honoraium of Rs.250.
New Mining Policy under formulation; no new approval, extension or transfer of mining leases till the new policy is formulated to save and ensure proper tilization of the mining resources in the state.
A comprehensive survey through Satellite of mining areas to prevent illegal mining.
“Industrial Vision Group” established to suggest comprehensive development of industries
“Kaushalya Ayoga” (Skill Commission) launched to create 10 Lakh jobs in the coming 5 years.
Committee formed to protect and maintain the Muzrai proper ties.
“Yuva Kreeda Sanjivini”, An insurance scheme launched for the benefit of State, National and International spor ts persons from the State Water Resources Authority established
Karavali Development Authority established for the integrated development of coastal Karnataka Rs. 115 Crore released to all Districts for flood and drought relief works and Rs. 10 Crore to BBMP .