North Karnataka Gets 44% of Guarantee Funds: CM Siddaramaiah Announces Revamp Plans

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In a bid to counter opposition criticism, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed on Friday that 43.63% of the total expenditure on the state government's five guarantee schemes had been allocated to beneficiaries in North Karnataka. This region, accounting for nearly 29.6 million of the state's 69.5 million population, has long been a focal point of the government's efforts to address regional disparities. The chief minister pointed out that the M Govinda Rao committee, tasked with assessing the region's current condition, is expected to submit its report in January. He emphasized that the government will prioritize diary farming in the Kalyana Karnataka region from next year to bridge the financial gap between regions, with Bengaluru Urban boasting a per capita income of ₹7.38 lakh and Kalaburagi lagging at ₹1.43 lakh. Recalling the long-standing demand for special provisions for the Kalyana Karnataka region, Siddaramaiah mentioned that LK Advani, during his tenure as deputy Prime Minister, initially opposed the implementation of Article 371 (J) in 2012. However, the provision ultimately benefited the region, with 43,000 students securing admissions in medical, engineering, and dental programs between 2014 and 2024. To strengthen education and health infrastructure in the region, the government has committed to examining and implementing the Prof Chaya Devadagaonkar committee report. This effort is expected to take 5-6 years, with the chief minister stressing that substantial improvement in the region's educational situation will only be apparent after this period. In related news, the cabinet recently cleared a ₹3,500 crore development package for North Karnataka, earmarking ₹1,503 crore for irrigation projects. Additionally, the government has approved a Bill on judicial reforms at the district level and granted administrative approval for a Public Private Partnership model to transport and process construction material within Greater Bengaluru. The cabinet also cleared the long-pending elevated corridor project in Belagavi. However, the chief minister's remarks were not without controversy, as he sharply criticized the Union government over pending funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. The government has also announced plans to acquire land for the Upper Krishna Project in one stretch and provide funds in the upcoming Budget.