Congress in Karnataka to stage protest on Apr 28 against 'paltry' drought relief given by Centre
Bengaluru, Apr 27: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress will stage a demonstration on April 28 here against the 'paltry' drought relief given by the Centre to the state.
Shivakumar, who is also Congress state president, said against the demand for Rs 18,172 crore to mitigate drought in the state, the Centre has sanctioned only Rs 3,454 crore.
The union government has announced a very paltry sum of relief, which will be grossly insufficient to provide drought relief to farmers, he told mediapersons here.
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"In this regard, we have decided to stage a protest near the Gandhi statue at Vidhana Soudha. We will also continue our legal battle for more drought relief. We are not seeking alms, this is our right," he noted.
Shivakumar said Karnataka had only sought 50 per cent of the estimated loss of Rs 35,000 crore, but the Centre has agreed to release only a fraction of that.
ಬರಪರಿಹಾರ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಹಾಗೂ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಅನ್ನದಾತರಿಗಾಗಿರುವ ಅನ್ಯಾಯ ಖಂಡಿಸಿ ಭಾನುವಾರ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದ ಗಾಂಧಿ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಬಳಿ ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ಹಮ್ಮಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನ ಉಳಿಸಲು ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಬೆಂಬಲಿಸಿ. #InjusticeForKarnataka #CongressWithFarmers #DroughtRelief pic.twitter.com/BYE6tp7uH2
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) April 27, 2024
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Maharashtra government considers tweaks to Ladki Bahin scheme amid fiscal strain: Reports
Mumbai: A day after the Mahayuti coalition secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, attention has turned to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that played a pivotal role in attracting women voters.
The scheme, launched in July 2024, offers ₹1,500 per month to economically disadvantaged women aged 18 to 65. The Mahayuti, in its election manifesto, pledged to increase the amount to ₹2,100 per month, a promise now under scrutiny due to fiscal concerns. With the scheme projected to cost the exchequer ₹33,300 crore from July 2024 to March 2025, bureaucrats are exploring ways to revise its provisions to prevent a financial imbalance.
Finance Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar hinted at the challenges, stressing the need for "financial discipline." A senior bureaucrat confirmed that plans are underway to prune the list of beneficiaries, citing the inclusion of ineligible individuals due to incomplete Aadhaar seeding and lack of required ration cards. According to the finance department, nearly one crore women out of the 2.43 crore registered beneficiaries may not qualify for the scheme.
The state’s debt burden is already projected to reach ₹7.82 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. Officials warn that continuing the scheme in its current form could impact the government’s ability to pay salaries by January. Despite these concerns, the ruling coalition is hesitant to reduce the beneficiary list, likely due to the upcoming civic elections.
Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik is expected to present renegotiation proposals to the new chief minister soon. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde credited the scheme for increasing the number of women voters and boosting the coalition’s vote share. NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar also acknowledged the scheme’s role in mobilising women voters.
Other welfare measures introduced by the government include an electricity bill waiver for farmers and three free LPG cylinders annually for six million households. However, the financial viability of such initiatives remains a pressing concern.
