Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot said corruption is institutionalised in the system, and eradicating it remains as a major challenge.
In his customary address to members of the both Houses of the Karnataka legislature on July 3, the Governor said, “Corruption has become so entrenched in our system that for many reasons it has become almost institutionalised. Eradicating it is a major challenge. The government would take all necessary administrative and legislative measures to check corruption.”
Corruption was one of major poll planks of the Congress in the Assembly elections.
Brining State out of distress
In his address in Hindi, Mr Gehlot said, “Karnataka, which stood tall and contributed immensely to the country, has landed in a State of distress. Bringing Karnataka out from economic distress shall be the priority of the new Congress government. The government would showcase new Karnataka governance as a model to the country by balancing both the welfare and the State’s economy.”
Mr Gehlot said, in the next five years, the State Government would place emphasis on a people-centric economy.
Noting welfare schemes launched during the previous Congress government (2013-18), the Governor said Krishi Bhagya Scheme launched in 2014 has enabled farmers to earn more income from agriculture using farm pits, poly houses, and shade-net farming. The scheme would be expanded to improve the lives of farmers.
The Pashu Bhagya scheme, implemented from 2013 to 2018, contributed to an increase in family income of the beneficiaries who got cows and buffaloes. The scheme would be strengthened to augment the income of farmers.
The government would implement Anugraha Yojana for providing compensation to people in case of death of sheep, goat, cow, buffalo, and this would alleviate heavy losses. The scheme has not been active for the last few years.
On ensuring self-sufficiency, the governor said the government would promote dairy farming, which would increase milk production and income of farmers. “APMCs will be further improved to make them farmer-friendly,” Mr Gehlot said.
In order to live up to peoples’ expectations, he said the government has adopted 12th century social reformer Basavanna’s guiding words ‘do as you speak’ as an anthem.
‘Garden of peace’
The governor quoted teachings of Kannada ‘adi kavi’ Pampa, poets Sarvagna, Rashtra kavi Kuvempu, Vijaya and social and religious reformers Buddha, Basavanna, Narayana guru, and father of the Constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, and said narrow minds create divisions and differences between different communities, and the remnants of such a mindset still survive at various levels of society. The government would take all the steps to build a peaceful and loving society, in pursuit of what Kuvempu termed ‘Garden of peace for all the sects’.
Stating that the government would implement its five guarantees, Mr Gehlot said under the ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme, the additional 5 kg rice allotment of the State Government would be given in the form of a Direct Benefit Transfer of money at ₹34 per kg per person directly into the bank account of poor families each month.
The arrangement will continue until the quantum of rice for the additional 5 kg of rice to all the poor households is tied up, he said, adding that the State Government would make the State hunger-free through Anna Bhagya scheme and Indira Canteens.
In his 16-page address, he said the government would amend Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act, 1978 (Karnataka Act 2 of 1979), better known as PTCL Act, to provide protection to SCs and STs, formulate a new plan to overcome regional disparities, and set up industries to create more local jobs.
The government is committed to make Bengaluru a healthy, sustainable developed city by solving the problem of traffic congestion to the extent possible, the Governor said.
