Bengaluru: On the day of completing three years in the hot seat, Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah on Friday announced that the state government will extend the Ksheera Bhagya scheme from the present three days a week to six days soon.
In his 30-minute speech at Jana Mana, a public interaction to coincide with the completion of three years in power, the Chief Minister contended that he was committed to uphold equality and social justice and claimed his government was for “all” and did not create welfare schemes keeping particular communities in mind.
He tried to hardsell his flagship schemes as pro-people and pro-poor and made an attempt to project himself as a messiah of the Dalits.
In a clear departure from his usual style, Mr Siddaramaiah refrained from using the acronym AHINDA and focused on how his schemes have benefitted the Dalits and all sections of poor people.
Obliquely conceding that his government needs to be more active, the Chief Minister assured that the remaining two years of his tenure will be focused on putting governance on the high-speed track of efficiency and transparency.
During an interaction with beneficiaries of various schemes and programmes launched during the last three years, Mr Siddaramaiah conceded the demand made by several school children.
“I agree to the demand made to extend the Ksheera Bhagya to six days of the week. Even though, it will be a burden on the exchequer, I won’t mind it as this scheme will help strengthen future generations,” he said
He also declared that financial constraints will not stop him from announcing schemes aimed at uplifting people’s lives. “If anything can bring a smile on the poor man’s face, I am for it,” he announced.
The Chief Minister wondered how Anna Bhagya, which feeds four crore beneficiaries can be dubbed as one meant to benefit a particular community.
“When I announced schemes like Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhgaya and Ksheera Dhara it never occurred to me that I was planning for a particular community. I was only thinking of making Karnataka a ‘hunger free’ state,” he said.
Taking swipe at those who described his government as a non-starter, Mr Siddaramaiah quipped, “I am always for the people and by the people, and I have never cared for my opponents. I respect criticism but not criticism for the sake of criticism.”
“Is it my fault that none of my predecessors actually thought of providing two square meals to hungry people in the state?” he wondered.
Schoolboy to Siddaramaiah: You are ignoring a particular section
“Jana Mana”, an interactive session with beneficiaries of various schemes and programmes launched during the last three years by the state government, witnessed participants listing a slew of complaints against the dispensation, on Friday.
First, a 10 year-old school boy from Shivamogga hinted to CM Siddaramaiah that the leader was ignoring a particular section of the society, while an IAS aspirant and assistant commissioner of Income Tax, Dr Tejas, pointedly demanded that the state government ought to weed out corruption in Karnataka Public Service Commission.
CM Siddaramaiah handing over a tricycle to a beneficiary at Beerasandra in Devanahalli taluk on Friday.
The school boy queried as to why the state government always announced caste-based scholarships instead of merit based scholarships? “Sir, I welcome your decision to provide milk for school children, but I would like the milk which the state serves to have almonds, pista and many more dry fruits to increase its nutritional value. But, I do not like schemes which are caste based. In this state, either you have to be poor and belong to a certain caste or rich to indulge in malpractice like the one — question paper leak — that took place some weeks ago. Both will not help us. We Brahmins are poor, too, so please look towards us sympathetically,” he added.
A school girl from Dharwad demanded that school teachers be relieved of additional duties like distribution of milk and serving mid-day meal to students. “On one hand, the state government gives us food and milk, but teachers are engaged in serving food to us. How can government school students cope up competition once they pass out?” she asked.
A college student from Gadag urged the CM to consider extension of education schemes like Vidyshree scholarship schemes to young widows.
