BENGALURU: Pourakarmikas who soil their hands will get a chance to fly! Yes, you heard it right!
During the budget discussion on Friday, Mayor Sampath Raj said that two women pourakarmikas from each of the eight BBMP zones will be picked for the foreign sojourn.
He stressed that women have been given importance and it has been reflected in the BBMP budget. The women pourakarmikas will be sent to foreign countries to study and inculcate best practices on solid waste management. About 16 corporators will also be sent on a foreign trip, he said.
iPads for corporators
Though several infrastructure projects are progressing at a snail's pace, putting scores of Bengalureans to hardship, the BBMP has acted fast and issued iPads to corporators! The irony is that though the laptops announced in the BBMP budget are yet to reach students studying in BBMP schools, within two days of the budget announcement corporators already own their tabs.
Interestingly, the government is yet to receive a copy of the BBMP budget let alone approving, but the corporators have iPads that has cost Rs 99 lakh to the exchequer. This also amounts to violation of the Karnataka Transparency and Public Procurement (KTPP) Act.
Commendable budget: Ruling party leader
The Congress and JD(S) coalition at the BBMP has presented a commendable budget, said ruling party leader M. Shivaraj.
He said that five heritage buildings that were pledged have been released and financial discipline has been brought in. The state government has extended support for the development of Bengaluru by providing a grant of Rs 12,551 crore, including Rs 4,250 crore this year, which is unheard of, he said. Making an oblique reference to the BJP rule in the BBMP council, he said that the financial discipline had gone haywire during the previous council. About 11 heritage buildings were pledged to raise Rs 1,676 crore. The coalition administration has bailed out four pledged buildings and has plans to free two more buildings, said Mr. Shivaraj.
