Bengaluru, May 7: Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh appreciated the administration of Siddaramaiah government, which has given priority for social, health and education sectors.

Addressing the reporters at the KPCC office here on Monday, Dr Singh said that the Tender Sure scheme of the state government has changed the way of creating urban infrastructure. Metro transportation has improved considerably. Since the state government has proposed to earmark total 80 per cent of the planning expenditure, sub-urban railway project was kicked off. Though there was heavy traffic congestion due to vehicles and population, there were lot changes due to good policies, he said.

Since there is a complementary environment for creativity and entrepreneurship of Bengaluru, youth were attracted towards this city. Due to the concept of businessmen of Bengaluru, JnNURM scheme was introduced. The development of cities should be the priority of every government. But Modi government has seen satisfaction in declaring the programmes like Amrut, Smart City and others, he said.

Because of the new policies like Elevate, Bengaluru city has become new business capital of the country. Due to the support given to industries, it has attracted more investment and it is the front runner in investment compared any other state including Gujarat in the country. When Karnataka is leading the job creation, the centre is in so pathetic condition. Though Modi had promised of creating more than two crore jobs every year, in reality, the BJP government has removed the job opportunities, he said.

In the last four years, total 72 lakh jobs were cut because of Modi and his government’s irresponsible administration. In national level, the export of software was also declined. In 2015-16, it was declined to 7.3 per cent. Bengaluru and Karnataka have become a model to the entire country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should learn some lesions even now and implement them, he hoped. 

 

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Bengaluru (PTI) The Karnataka government on Thursday indicated that it may hike the family income limit to obtain a Priority Households (PHH) ration card, considering rising costs.

Karnataka Health & Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao gave this indication in the Legislative Assembly, while replying to a question on behalf of Food and Civil Supplies Minister K H Muniyappa. He was responding to a question by senior BJP MLA C N Ashwath Narayan, during question hour.

"The current family annual income limit of Rs 1.20 lakh was fixed in 2017, it should certainly be accepted that the amount is less. From 2017, we are now in 2026. There is a need to revise this. It must be re-examined," said Rao, who previously served as Food and Civil Supplies Minister.

Noting that the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by senior Congress MLA R V Deshpande, has recommended increasing the income limit to Rs 3 lakh, he said, "The department will look into this."

Raising the issue, Narayan stressed the need for higher income limits as the cost of living in Bengaluru had risen.

Replying to Narayan's statement that 50 per cent of the urban population should get PHH or Antyodaya cards, citing the Food Security Act, the minister said the act meant for the country as a whole, while it varies for states.

Karnataka has 1.24 crore households with PHH ration cards, Rao said. "The Centre has identified 1.09 crore eligible families in Karnataka. But the state has exceeded this by 15.8 lakh families. In some rural areas, 95 per cent of the population is covered."

He also highlighted cases where ineligible people have obtained the card.

"There is demand for this card as it is considered the basis for obtaining other benefits like medical and other things. They don't want it for obtaining ration, but for other benefits," he said.