Bengaluru: Taking on the English media for dismissing programmes like the Anna Bhagya as populist, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of Friday said he did not care too much about such criticism, particularly from those who didn't really know what hunger was.
Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the Bengaluru Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics here, he said it was the vivid memory of a family begging for a bowl of rice from their neighbours in his village because a child was running fever and could not eat a ragi ball, that prompted him to start Anna Bhagya, under which the poor are given 7 kgs of rice free of cost.
"There is a tendency among some commentators and journalists, particularly in the English media, to dismiss programmes like Anna Bhagya as populist. But my commitment is to make Karnataka hunger- free. And I will consciously work towards this," he asserted.
Moreover, he said, it was not as if the government was spending all its money on providing free food. "We are making substantial investments in irrigation, roads and electricity , in promoting our dynamic and globally renowned innovation and start-up eco system, and in developing a skilled workforce as well an investor-friendly environment," he added.
Quoting Nobel laureate, Dr Amartya Sen, he observed that economic growth without investment in human development was not only unsustainable, but unethical as well.
" We know that we cannot build a strong nation if our citizens go to bed hungry, if our children go to school barefoot and if our women suffer from poor health . We know a society can't progress if its citizens live in fear of violence for the choice of food they make or for their choice of a life partner. Our proven commitment to human development and a progressive society, will stand the test of time. We are proud of this commitment and have backed all our promises with adequate allocations. I am personally overseeing the implementation of development programmes, to ensure that outlays result in outcomes," he declared.
