The Jana Mana programme held here on Friday has provided a platform for meaningful dialogue between Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil and selected beneficiaries of government schemes.
The beneficiaries, ranging from farmers to schoolchildren, apprised the Minister about the pros and cons of different welfare schemes.
Martandappa Hadimani, of Gadag, said the Anna Bhagya had helped poor sections especially at the time of drought. The free rice supplied ensured no one starved. As jowar is the staple food here, the government should provide jowar every month, he said.
Bhimavva Dyavanavar, a student of Government High School, Mallapur, and Pooja Mullal, of Loyola High School, Gadag, said Ksheera Bhagya to supply milk free had helped poor children overcome nutritional deficiencies. Most of the children in government schools were from poor families. The government should supply milk five days a week, they said.
The programme also brought to the limelight some success stories in the farming sector. Sharanappa Hadli, a farmer from Belavanaki village of Ron taluk, said the ponds dug under Krishi Bhagya helped them have sufficient water for crops. He earned ₹75 lakh this year. “I have been farming for the last 30 years. Earlier, I was incurring a loss of ₹10-15 lakh. Last year, I made a profit of ₹30 lakh. He said payment of subsidies should be expedited and it would help if the government integrates dairy farming with this scheme. Mr. Patil said the government had approved releasing arrears of ₹10 crore under this scheme by the second week of June.
P.B. Huded, of Gadag, said the Ksheera Dhare scheme had helped earn more by milk production. Earlier, his daily income was ₹350 from selling milk and had enhanced to ₹750 today as the government provides ₹5 per litre as incentive. Nagamma Vaddar, the beneficiary of self-employment scheme said she availed of a loan under the State government’s scheme to start a fish business. It has eradicated her poverty.
