Karnataka budget 2018: CM Siddaramaiah announces free LPG, universal health scheme

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiahtoday in his pre-assembly election budget for 2018-19,  announced schemes for universal health coverage, providing free LPG connections and mitigating miseries of farmers.

The chief minister also said the implementation of the sixth pay commission for 5.93 lakh state government employees and 5.73 lakh pensioners would cost Rs 10,508 crore to the exchequer.

The commission recommended a 30 per cent hike in the salary structure and with increase in pay and other steps to increase productivity and efficiency, the government would be in a better position to implement its welfare measures, he said.

Sops for farmers

Siddaramaiah, who holds the finance portfolio, announced a scheme to waive loans of up to Rs 1 lakh taken by a farmer member from a primary agricultural credit cooperative society on his death.

Health scheme

The 'Arogya Karnataka Yojana' (universal health coverage), to be launched this month, would be implemented across the state by the end of this year. The scheme will make available primary, and specific secondary and tertiary treatments to all people.

Over 9,000 health and wellness centres will be set up by upgrading existing sub-centres for every 5,000 population in rural areas during the next seven years for providing high quality comprehensive primary health care services, he said.

A total budgetary allocation of Rs 6,645 crore has been made for the health and family welfare department.

The announcement comes close on the heels of what was touted as the world's largest public health scheme to cover 10 crore families unveiled in the Union Budget.

In an apparent move to counter the Centre's Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Scheme, Siddaramaiah announced that under the 'Mukhyamantri Anila Bhagya Yojana', free gas connections with twin burner stoves and two refills would be provided to 30 lakh beneficiaries, costing the state Rs 1,350 crore.

The scheme comes against the backdrop of sharp differences between the Siddaramaiah government and the Centre over the implementation of Ujjwala scheme.

Farmers

Siddaramaiah also



unveiled 'Raitha Belaku', a scheme to give direct income assistance to farmers.

Under the scheme, Rs 5,000 per hectare, subject to a maximum of Rs 10,000, would be provided to each farmer growing rain-fed crops with the money being directly transferred into farmers' bank accounts.

Expected to benefit around 70 lakh farmers, is cost the state Rs 3,500 crore every year.

On GST, Siddaramaiah said due to implementation problems in the initial months, systematic analysis of data and rigorous enforcement activities could not be undertaken.

Tax compliance

However, implementation of the Karnataka model of e-way bill in the entire country is expected to bring about qualitative change in tax compliance and streamline GST collection across the country.

Asserting that the state government was committed to the comprehensive development of Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said necessary action would be taken to prepare a project report for 105.55 km line under the Bengaluru Metro Phase-3.

With this, the total length of Bengaluru metro rail, including all phases, will expand to 266 km.

To manage goods and passenger transport more efficiently and quickly, and to reduce density of road traffic, a feasibility study will be undertaken for implementation of "Roll-on and Roll-off" multi-modal logistic park and sea plane services under PPP mode, he said.

With elections due early this year, Siddaramaiah sought vote-on account up to July 31, 2018.

Welfare schemes

Stressing his government's focus on welfare schemes, he said: "Today, there is no situation in the state where any person goes to bed with hunger," and described his government as "farmer-friendly".

"I am not an expert who has made a scholarly study of economics. There is no knowledge greater than experience," said Siddaramaiah,

His leadership is being projected by the Congress for the coming assembly polls, where he is facing a fierce fight from BJP, which is raring to return to power.

The state budget is his record 13th in more than 35 years of his political career, and sixth in a row as chief minister.