Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said the Government was committed to the development of Mysuru which he described as a city of the future.
He was speaking after inaugurating a new block at Shaktidhama – an institution working to rehabilitate the destitute children and women.
Mr. Bommai said Mysuru in the south and Hubballi-Dharwad in the north were poised to emerge as the cities of the future and the Government was committed to their growth. With respect to Mysuru, he listed out a slew of projects sanctioned for the city and also said that he had sanctioned ₹125 crores for the expansion of Mysuru airport in the State Budget.
Though there was a passing response to airport expansion without any financial commitment, it was the first time that the actual amount earmarked for Mysuru airport was announced by Mr. Bommai.
The Chief Minister said the State Budget had a human touch to it and was not merely a financial document while listing out measures initiated to help kidney and cancer patients.
Mr.Bommai said economy is not about money but about empowering people and the budget had taken enough measures to empower the public by creating jobs.
There were funds for K.R.Hospital while various grants have been granted to Mysuru City Corporation.
Extolling the works of Shaktidhama to rehabilitate women and children Mr. Bommai announced a grant of ₹5 crore for the institution and hoped that it would emerge as a template for similar institutions in other parts of the State.
Cine actor Shivrajkumar, whose family is associated with Shaktidhama since its inception, said earlier, his parents – thespian Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar - used to take a lot of interest in the welfare of the inmates and in recent years he has been meeting the children and working to improve their living conditions.
The new block is funded by Infosys Foundation and includes a library and a dining hall besides having other amenities. The foundation stone for a new school for the children of Shaktidhama was also laid on the occasion. The school will start functioning from June in a makeshift facility till the new building is ready.
Suttur Mutt seer Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji, district in-charge Minister S.T. Somashekar, Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, and L.. Nagendra and S.A. Ramdas, MLAs, were among those present.
