Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, on Friday presented the State Budget 2018-19, the last one ahead of the Assembly elections. It is his 13th State Budget and 6th in a row. It was a full-fledged budget, with focus on agriculture and education. Bengaluru, however, gets a prominent mention in the budget.
Reduced allocation for the Commerce and IT Departments. The outlay is ₹ 1928 crore, down by ₹ 600 crore.
The Chief Minister announces a multi-modal logistics park on 400 acres near Bengaluru and on 50 acres in Hubballi.
A Learning Excellence Centre is to be set up at a cost of ₹ 23 crore. The Chief Minister announces the setting up of Rural Business Zones in 20-30 acres of barren/dry land to "reduce rural migration."
Eight new iron ore blocks will be auctioned and mining exploration of 30 mining licences ending in 2020 will be taken up, says the Chief Minister.
A sum of ₹ 5 crore allocated for development of start-ups in Kalaburagi along with the Deshpande Foundation.
Also, A Karnataka Innovation Authority to be established under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.
Sales tax on Aviation Turbine Fuel for small aircrafts down to 5% from 28%. Excise tax increased by 8% for liquor that costs more than ₹ 499 per carton box.
Sakala will get a makeover; SAKAALA 2.0 using modern e-governance tools like e-Sign, Digital Locker etc.; services will be made Faceless, Cashless and Paperless; citizens can submit applications at any of the Citizen Service Centres.
CM announces construction of 2,722 km length of State Highway under KSHDP-IV at an estimated cost of ₹ 3,480 crore and a detailed project report to be prepared in 2018-19.
In order to reduce road accidents, a grant of ₹ 150 crore to be provided for Road Safety Works under various schemes of the department.
Allocation for Transport department reduced. CM announces a budgetary allocation of ₹2,208 crore this year against ₹ 2,354 crore last year. CM announces free bus passes for students. Close to 19.60 lakh students to benefit. 1,000 women to get training in driving buses under BMTC, KSRTC to get 10 double-decker buses for inter-city operations, which will be first in the country. The Flybus service from Kempegowda Airport to be extended to seven places.
Representation of women in police department to be enhanced by 25 % in the next five years, says CM. Toilets from women will be constructed in all police stations and offices. All women police stations in district head quarters will be upgraded as one-stop service centres.
CM announces setting up of a permanent police services recruitment board. To make police department more citizen-friendly, Home Department's IT network to be upgraded. Memorial to be build in Bengaluru to honour the bravery of police personnel.
Cyber forensic laboratories to be established to help cyber police stations to effectively investigate and prevent cyber crime.
Nirbhaya Kendras will be established in all the police commissioner’s offices of the state, says CM.
Tourism sector gets an outlay of ₹ 459 cr, a decrease by ₹ 113 cr from last year. CM announces Feature Film Tourism Policy to be implemented to popularise tourist destinations of the State at the national and international levels. House boats and floating canteens to come up at select tourist places in coastal Karnataka; proposal to bring Department of Archaeology and museums and Heritage under the Tourism Department.
CM proposes ‘Kalaburagi Kalavana’ to showcase art, culture and heritage of north Karnataka; 20 heritage tourism destinations to be developed; Work will commence at Hampi, Belur-Halibidu, Shravanabelagola, Nani Hills, Sannathi and Kalaburagi Fort.
CM announces ‘Mysuru Haat' on the lines of ‘Delhi Haat’; Sample survey to be conducted to determine the number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting Karnataka.
A total allocation of ₹ 14,136 crore for energy department this year. Electricity consumption expenses of seven hours per day will be reimbursed to private HT & LT community lift irrigation units of cooperative societies with a capacity of 10 HP and less from this financial year. As many as 35 power sub-stations to be established in 2018-19 to strengthen the transmission network.
CM announces an allocation of ₹ 6,642 crore for the Revenue Department. E-Kshana Scheme for online caste, income and residence certificate to be extended to all areas of the State, says CM.
New apps to be developed by the department, including Samyojane: for citizen services of revenue department, Dishank: survey numbers and maps of spots where user is located, Samikshe: digital sketches to be done on this, Aadhaar Sangrahane: to collect Aadhaar numbers and Moulya: to get guidance values.
Beneficiaries of schemes such as sandhya suraksha, manaswaini and Mytri to get ₹ 600 against ₹ 500 last year. This will lead to additional expenditure of ₹ 576 crore and benefit 48 lakh people, CM says.
CM announces regularisation of illegal coffee lands. A guest house to be constructed at the cost of ₹ 20 crore at Tirupati for those from the State.
CM announces IT tools for for water supply information system at a cost of ₹ 25 crore for 10 ULBs. Four waste-to-energy plants in four divisions of the state announced. CM also announces ₹ 25 crore for pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in smaller towns.
CM announces an outlay of ₹17,196 crore for the Urban Development Department. This is ₹ 1,000 crore lesser than last year. CM says much of the ₹ 7,300 crore-projects for Bengaluru announced two years ago are in completion phase.
With 27 assembly seats, Bengaluru gets prominent mention in the budget. New Schemes worth ₹ 2,441 crore announced this year. These include 150km of white-topping this financial year. Development of 88 lakes by BBMP, 14 roads to be developed around ITPL to provide alternative connectivity to Whitefield area, 150km of storm water drains to be developed; and 250km of pedestrian walkways.
CM also announces multi-storey car parks at Gandhinagar, Koramanagala 4th stage, Jayanagara complex and BBMP head office on PPP basis. No allocation announced for these.
Approval of building plans, property tax (Khata), water and electricity connection, permission for road cutting to be allowed online in all Urban Local bodies. This will be made mandatory.
CM allocates ₹ 50 crore for rejuvenation of Bellandur lake to Bangalore Development Authority. Last year too, ₹ 50 crore had been provided. On Sub-urban rail, CM say "We will join hands with railway ministry to implement suburban rail."
Government of Japan to be roped in for traffic management system in the city.
CM announces increase in profit margin from ₹87 to ₹100 per quintal to retain ration distributors. Announces free gas connection with twin burners stove and two refills to 30 lakh beneficiaries under the Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya Yojana.
For the development of Kannada and Culture, CM announces fellowships for students working in the field of Kannada software development and Kannada software research; Pustaka Jatha programme to be organised to sell books published by the Kannada and Culture Department at concessional rates.
Mahakavi Kuvempu’s Mysuru residence ‘Udaya Ravi’ to be preserved and developed as a national poet monument; Janapada Samskruthika Bharatha will be started to introduce Kannada folklore and cultural arts to the entire country.
The budgetary allocation for labour and skill development reduced by 25%. The total outlay is ₹1,335 crore. The emphasis is on digital learning, says CM, as he announced public private partnership to develop multimedia computer labs in 120 Government ITIs. ₹10 crore will be provided by the government for this.
Ambedkar Karmika Sahaya Hastha scheme announced to give smart cards, contributory PF pension scheme to unorganised sector. This will cover washermen, barbers, gold smiths, iron smiths, potters and kiln workers.
Allocation for housing decreased by 17% to ₹ 3,941 crore. Chief Minister's Urban Housing scheme to be extended out of Bengaluru to all other areas. For this, 2,000 acre in Bengaluru; 500 acres in Mahanagara Palikes; 250 acres in TMC; 100 acres in other towns to be reserved.
TDR, FAR to be encouraged in slums for the in-situ development of slums along with private partners. But, guidelines yet to be developed.
CM announces ₹ 200 crore for Christian community, ₹ 80 cr for Jain and Sikh communities, ₹15 cr for modernisation of Madrasas and ₹ 800 cr for development of areas inhabited by minority communities. Creamy layer income to be removed for those applying under OBC categories in industrial areas; 2000 candidates to be given coaching for UPSC, KPSC, banking and other competitive examinations; ₹10 lakh loan for Backward class entrepreneurs at 6% interest announced.
Social welfare, backward classes and minority departments, which have been the key to Mr. Siddaramaiah's AHINDA (minorities, backward classes and dalit) thrust, continues to get a generous allocation. This year ₹ 11,981 crore has been allocated, which is nearly double of the allocation during the first full budget of this government in 2014.
Land purchase schemes for areas close to Bengaluru (Urban, Rural, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara districts) increased to ₹ 20 lakh from ₹ 15 lakh to facilitate those from socio-economically disadvantaged communities to buy agricultural land.
CM announces ₹ 3 lakh for a SC boy marrying a girl from another caste and ₹ 5 lakh for a SC girl marrying out of caste. The scheme will be extended to devadasis. CM says this will help to eradicate untouchability.
Around 680 manual scavengers to be given loans for land purchase under Ganga Kalyan Scheme. In an important announcement, CM says one member from Pourakarmika community will be nominated as member in Urban Local Bodies (BBMP, town municipal councils).
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Spoothi Bhavana at a cost of ₹ 25 crore to be set up next to Vikasa Soudha for the social welfare department.
CM announces an increase in monthly pension by ₹200 for those with over 75 per cent disability and ₹100 for those with less than that. The Government will also set up four professional training centres on an experimental basis to train mentally-challenged adults.
Government to provide 4 per cent reservation in group A and B posts for persons with disabilities as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The government has already reserved 5 % in group C and D posts, CM says.
Additional allocation for the Women and Child department. Budgetary allocation to be ₹ 5,371 crore this year, up from ₹ 4,926 crore last year. CM announces setting up of 250 new anganwadi centres in urban areas, 100 mobile anganwadi centres and creches in areas where there are large number of construction workers and a separate directorate of child protection to implement all the child protection schemes. The government will also set up transit hostels for women coming to Bengaluru with the help of voluntary organisations.
To build a positive mindset about women, awareness will be given on gender sensitivity to govt employees, community policing volunteers, residents' welfare associations and students of schools and colleges, particularly boys.
The total allocation for health for 2018-19 is ₹ 6,645 crore, over ₹ 1,000 crore more than last year. Universal Health Scheme (Arogya Karnataka Yojane) to be implemented from February 2018. It may be recalled that the Union Budget recently had hinted at a roll out of a universal healthcare insurance scheme for the country.
CM also announces setting up of 9,000 health and wellness centres by upgrading sub-centres for ever 5,000 population over the next seven years. Of these, 571 will be set up in this financial year. Technical services to be used to reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate to the lowest in the country.
Siddaramaiah announces setting up of a 1000-bedded additional ward at the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Nursing schools and colleges coming under the medical education department will also get a facelift. Hospitals to be constructed at Gadag, Koppal and Chamarajnagar medical colleges.
Giving a major fillip to education, CM announces a total allocation of ₹ 26,846 crore, which is nearly 20% higher than last year. CCTV cameras to be installed at government primary and high schools in a phased manner; district, city and taluk libraries to be upgraded as digital libraries; digital library facility to be extended to 10 lakh students in government-run institutions. To develop scientific temper among students of high school and PU colleges, science committees will be established; mobile science laboratories will be established in all districts in collaboration with Agasthya Foundation, says Siddaramaiah.
To give a boost to girls' education, full fees of all girl students in govt-run institutions (till PG) will be waived, says CM. A PG Centre at Chikkamagaluru under Kuvempu University and a PG centre at Jamakhandi under Rani Channamma University will be established; Konkani Study Chair to be established at Karnatak University, Dharwad.
Environment gets an allocation of ₹1,949 cr, an increase by ₹ 200 cr compared to last year. Siddaramaiah announces ₹ 10 crore for watershed management.
The government will set up tree depots for sale of trees to farmers. These trees will be auctioned at APMCs itself. The budgetary allocation of ₹ 5 crore has been given for this.
CM announces a pension of ₹ 2,000 monthly for five years and ₹ 5 lakh for all those killed by wild animals.
To check air pollution, 42 continuous air quality monitoring stations at ₹ 96 crore to come up in the state. Only Bengaluru has these stations now (5 of them).
Marginal increase in allocation for Minor and Major Irrigation. Allocation for minor irrigation is ₹ 2114 crore, an increase of ₹ 15 crore from last year. Major irrigation to get ₹15,998 crore, compared to ₹ 15,998 crore last year. CM announces lift irrigation schemes of ₹ 1137 crore in Belagavi district; new schemes for Bagalkot district worth ₹ 190 cr and ₹ 50 cr for Hassan district. Also modernisation of Upper Krishna Project Narayanapura right bank canal of 95km at ₹ 750 crore announced.
Cooperation department gets 256% hike in allocation, to a record ₹5837 crore, compared to just ₹ 1,663 crore last year. This allocation is more than the past four years combined.
CM announces 45% increase in allocation for agriculture and allied activities. This year's allocation will be ₹ 15,767 crore against ₹ 10,845 crore last year. This increase is the highest under the present government.
CM announces farmer loan waiver. Says ₹ 1 lakh loan to be waived upon famer's death. The waiver applies to primary agriculture credit co-operaitve society.
Mr. Siddaramaiah, who is from the Kuruba community, continues to give attention to the livestock - particularly sheep and goat - which is traditionally reared by the community. Schemes worth at least ₹ 65.5 crore have been announced exclusively for sheep/goat development.
Allocation for Sericulture also increased: from ₹ 28 crore last year, the allocation has been increased to ₹ 457 crore. Cm says Seri-tourism will be promoted, with a live museum at Channapatna. Similarly, a silk museum will be developed at Talghattapura's Karnataka State Silk Research and Development Institute. Sericulture to be extended to Soliga tribals in BRT. Around 40 acre land to be used to develop a sub-centre of silk research and development centre there, CM says.
Allocation for Horticulture reduced. For 2018-19, the sector will gets ₹ 995 crore; nearly ₹ 100 crore lesser than the ₹ 1091 crore allocated last year. Animal Husbandry gets ₹ 2377 crore. Exotic fruits such as dragon fruit, Litchi, Avacodo, Jamun, Strawberry and seedless varieties of custard apple and guava to be given priority and promoted under the central-sponsored and state schemes.
Hydrophonics technology to be promoted for growing tomato, capsicum, brinjal and leafy vegetables in urban and in peri-urban areas. Cm says, as coconut plantations had suffered due to continuous drought in the last three years, the plantations will be rejuvenated by following integrated management practice involving adoption of integrated pests and nutrient management, replanting in the next five years.
CM announces setting up for a new agriculture college at Chamarajanagar, along with new agriculture research centre in Muddebihal and Nanjundaswamy Study Centre in GKVK. Farmers who have died of snake bite during farming activities to get ₹ 2 lakh as compensation.
Additional allocation announced for agriculture. From ₹ 5,080 crore last year, allocation for agriculture increased to ₹ 5,849 crore.
CM announces Raita Belaku scheme under which dry land farmers will be given a maximum ₹ 10,000. The money will be transferred to their bank accounts. Stating that farmer suicides had decreased, CM announces ₹ 1 lakh relief for families of farmers who committed suicide.
Loans up to ₹ 50,0000 taken for cattle rearing till December 31, 2017 waived off.
Siddaramaiah announces 30% salary hike for government employees as per the Sixth Pay Commission recommendation. This will cost the State government an additional ₹ 10,508 crore. Also announces ₹ 2000 pension for wife of farmers who committed suicide.
Months before the polls, CM uses budget speech to sum up the achievements of his government over the last five years. Says that the State's GDP is 8.5% compared to 7.5% in 2016-17. On demonetisation, he says that it has adversely affected the revenue of the State, especially stamps and registration. "GST though will have positive impact in the long run, it is expected to reduce revenue generation in the short term," the CM says.
There is jobless growth in the country, but we have achieved job creating growth, says the CM.
Beginning his Budget speech, Siddaramaiah claims Karnataka has won its battle against hunger and his government has given food security, adding that the State has attracted highest investment among all states in the country.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrive at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru to present the State Budget 2018-19.
