Bengaluru: As the JD (S) - Congress coalition government completes 100 days in office on August 30, what is the public perception of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his team? So far it appears to be mixed, with the government drawing as many brickbats as bouquets. While Ms Tara Krishnaswamy, an activist from Citizens for Bengaluru, is all praise for the JD(S) manifesto, which spoke of improving transportation for working women, free and quality higher education for women and so on, she says it has done very little to implement it until now. She is also unhappy at the suicides of pourakarmikas in the city and the push for the ambitious elevated corridor project, which she sees as “elitist.”
But Mr Pawan S, a marketing professional from Kengeri is impressed by Mr Kumaraswamy’s waiver of farm loans and the job he has done in clearing the drains in Bengaluru in timefor the monsoons to avoid floods.
However, this does not seem to cut ice with Ms Kavita Agarwal, a career counsellor and psychotherapist, who is disappointed at the continuing garbage problem in the city. “ The absence of a proper garbage disposal system in JP Nagar 6th phase, Kanakapura Main Road has left our area stinking. The heavy traffic and hike in prices of daily essentials is also upsetting,” she says.
Mr Niranjanaradhya V.P, an education expert, is happy with the increase in funds for primary and secondary education in the budget. “However, on the policy front they have colossally failed with disastrous decisions that go against the public education system,” he says, pointing to the closure/merger of government schools, and transfer of teachers and junior officers in the middle of the academic year.
For Mr Ashley William Joseph, an artist and founder of the Indian National Symphony Orchestra, the government’s failure to contribute to promoting music and the performing arts is a matter of serious concern. “It was disheartening to see no mention of these in any of the manifestos presented by the parties and what is more disturbing is the ban on live music. It is high time that our representatives realise that people who aren’t doctors, engineers and techies are also part of the citizenry,” he adds.
Dr Pradeep Naik, senior resident, department of pulmonary medicine, Bangalore Medical College, is concerned by the lack of clarity still on the Jyothi Sanjeevini health scheme for government employees and Arogya Karnataka, the universal health coverage scheme. “More Jan Aushadhi centres should be set up for better availability of generic medicines,” he suggests.
Ms Srimathi Perumal, a budding social media influencer, is however, happy that this government has not spent much on image building like its predecessors and counterparts in other states. As for Mr Kshitij Urs, executive director, Greenpeace India, he believes the government needs to take climate change more seriously after the recent natural disasters in Kerala and Kodagu and reduce its dependence on coal-based thermal plants and promote roof-top solar power generation.
