Congress presents farmer-friendly budget in Karnataka

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bangalore, July 12, 2013 (DHNS): The Congress government in Karnataka Friday taxed liquor, made watching movies in air-conditioned theatres costlier, offered farmers interest- free loan of Rs.200,000 and girl students in first standard Rs.2 a day for attending school.

Presenting a Rs.1,20,717 crore budget for 2013-14 in the assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah allocated over Rs.4,000 crore to upgrading crumbling infrastructure in capital Bangalore, which is also the nation’s IT hub.

 

In view of the increasing crimes against women in the state, he announced that 10 fast-track courts would be set up to try the culprits.

Siddaramaiah estimated total expenditure at Rs.1,21,611 crore - revenue expenditure of Rs. 97,391 crore and capital expenditure of Rs.18,380 crore as well as debt repayment of Rs.5,840 crore.

He said he expects a revenue surplus of Rs.596 crore.

This is Siddaramaiah’s eighth budget, though first as chief minister. This is also the Congress government’s first budget after returning to power in the state in the May 5 assembly elections, defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party.

His earlier budgets were as finance minister in the Janata Dal government and Congress-Janata Dal-Secular coalition set up. He joined Congress from JD-S in 2007.

The largest allocation in the budget was for education at Rs.18,923 crore followed by energy at Rs.10,312 crore, water resources at Rs.9,363 crore and urban development at Rs.9,286 crore.

While farmers would get interest-free loans of upto Rs.200,000, they would be charged one percent interest for loans between Rs.200,000 and Rs.300,000 from cooperative banks.

The budget enhanced the income limit to be classified as creamy layer from Rs.350,000 to Rs. 450,000, introduced a new scheme called "Manaswini" under which poor unmarried women of 40 years and above and poor divorced women would get a monthly pension of Rs.500.

Transgenders have something to cheer about in the budget as it promised a monthly pension of Rs.500 to them under a scheme named "Mythri".

Siddaramaiah reduced sales tax on diesel from 16.75 percent to 15.65 percent which would bring down the price of the fuel by 51 paise per litre at Bangalore from the present Rs.55.39 per litre.

He raised additional excise duty by 16 percent to 40 percent making liquor costlier.

The chief minister expected his resource mobilisation effort would yield Rs.1,452 crore.

Siddaramaiah also announced that an International Convention Centre would be developed at Devanahalli near the Bangalore International Airport on the city outskirts and providing wi-fi connectivity in M.G. Road and Brigade Road, the two popular commercial centres and youth hangouts in city centre.

What the CM said: Highlights of the speech in progress

Key announcements:
New parking policy in City Corporations including Bangalore.
Rehabilitation scheme for Endosulfan victims.
Four new Medical Colleges in State.
10 fast track courts to try crimes against women.
SSLC/PUC exam management system to be restructured.
Higher Education Academy to be set up in Dharwad.
New government women’s colleges to be set up in 15 districts.
Rs 100 crores for Solid Waste Management.
Rs 100 crores for Christian community in the state.
Rs 100 crores to develop lakes and remove encroachers.
Mythri Scheme: Rs  500 monthly pension for transgenders.
Rs 100 crores earmarked for skywalk for citizens.
Interest-free loans for farmers up to two lakhs. Subsidised loan between 2  lakh to 10 lakh to farmers.
Rs 100 crore for weavers .
Textile park at Yadgir, Granite park at Chamaraja Nagar, Rs 10 crore for the aerospace park; Rs 50 crore aid for SC/ST and regliogious bodies.
Support price for Milk producers increased from Rs 2 to Rs 4.


Sector-wise allocation:
Education: Rs 18, 923 crores
Commerce and Industry: Rs 8856 crores
Urban Development: Rs 9286 crores
Water Resources: Rs 9363 crores
Health and Family Welafare: Rs 5421 crores
Energy: Rs 10, 312 crores
Agriculture and Horticulture: Rs 4378 crores
Animal Husbandry: Rs 1903 crores
Home and Transport: Rs 5315 crores
Social Welfare: Rs 5046 crores
Women and Child Welfare: Rs 3466 crores
Revenue: Rs 3797 crores
Housing: Rs 1365 crores

Bangalore:
Rs 2250 crores allocated for peripheral ring road.
Arkavathy Layout sites to be allotted by March, 2014.
Rs 600 crores BDA complex at RT Nagar.
Rs 4150 crores JNNURM projects in Bangalore and Mysore.
To develop International Convention Centre at Devanahalli.
M G Road and Brigade roads to  get wi-fi.
Kempe Gowda layout to be formed by March, 2014 for 5000 allotees.
Bangalore Suburban Rail Corporation to be set up soon.
Indian Institute of Public Health to come up in Bangalore.
All RTO offices in Bangalore to be computerised.
Four more RTO offices in Bangalore.
Rs 150 crore allotted for elevated road between Jayadeva Hospital and Silk Board.
Rs 250 crores allotted for developing infrastructure in 110 villages that has been added to BBMP.
1.6 lakh saplings to be planted at a cost of Rs 20 crores.
Sarjapur and Bannerghata roads to be widened at a cost of Rs 300 crores.
Rs 500 crores earmarked for grade separators at important junctions.

Tax:
Cess on diesel reduced by 51 paisa/ litre from Rs 16.75 to Rs 15.65.
Alcohol becomes more expensive.
No change in VAT.
50 % concession for Maxi Cabs from road tax.
Additional excise duty increased between 16% to 40% across 17 slabs.
Watching cinemas in A/C theatres become more expensive.
Service tax on A/C theatres increased from Rs 1.5 to Rs 3.
Excise collection stands at Rs 12, 600 crores.
Commercial Tax collection estimated at Rs 37,740 crores.

12.30 pm: Everybody in, Speaker at his seat. Siddu opens his briefcase. The budget speech begins.

An unexpected guest outside Vidhana Soudha. A sheep, yes, a sheep, gets off an air-conditioned luxury  car. The animal is on a leash, which is held by a man in whites. Speculation that it is a gift for the CM. Nobody knows.

12.20 pm: Assembly filling up as our elected representatives start to arrive. B S Yeddyurappa is one of the first to enter the Hall. He looks at peace, going around greeting friends.