Karnataka Budget 2024: Minister Hebbalkar Hails ‘Balanced’ and ‘Forward-Looking’ Fiscal Plan
Bengaluru: Karnataka’s Minister for Women and Child Development, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, lauded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s 17th budget presentation. She called it a testament to his expertise in economic management. Addressing the press, Minister Hebbalkar, who also serves as the Udupi district minister-in-charge, described the budget as balanced and forward-looking. She said it was carefully crafted to promote development across all social strata, regions, and sectors in the state.
Minister Hebbalkar emphasized the budget’s focus on crucial sectors such as health, education, agriculture, water resources, and employment generation. She said this focus would boost Karnataka’s progress. She also highlighted Rs 100 crore for the Chief Minister’s Agriculture Expansion Scheme, predicting it would significantly benefit the agricultural community.
Furthermore, the Minister addressed concerns surrounding the state’s flagship guarantee schemes, assuring the public that the budget allocates sufficient funds to ensure their continued operation. She emphasized that an unwavering commitment to these schemes, dispelling fears of potential discontinuation, would instill confidence in the general populace.
A significant portion of Minister Hebbalkar’s remarks focused on the budget’s provisions for women’s empowerment and child welfare. She noted that allocating Rs 94,663 crore for women-oriented schemes, including a substantial Rs 28,608 crore earmarked for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, underscored the government’s dedication to advancing the status of women in Karnataka. The Minister also commended the decision to establish a high-level committee for the comprehensive development of Anganwadi centers and the reinstatement of a program that provides nutritious food to pregnant women and lactating mothers at these centers. She believes these initiatives will significantly benefit maternal and child health. The provision of an additional pair of uniforms for Anganwadi workers and helpers also drew praise.
Addressing child-related initiatives, Minister Hebbalkar pointed to the allocation of ₹63,135 crore for related schemes. She highlighted the increase in financial assistance for former Devadasis, from Rs 30,000 to Rs 45,000, and the allocation of Rs 5 crore to support their children in securing employment as a critical step towards achieving social justice. The Minister further acknowledged the importance of establishing de-addiction centers for children under 18 in Dharwad and Bengaluru, alongside providing grants to establish childcare centers at the district level, emphasizing their role in safeguarding children’s future well-being.
The Anaemia-Free Nutritious Karnataka scheme, which provides free treatment to vulnerable children, also received attention. Minister Hebbalkar noted that establishing new nutrition rehabilitation centers would further enhance efforts to combat malnutrition within the state.
In a move aimed at protecting the mental health and safety of young people, Minister Hebbalkar described the decision to ban social media usage for children below the age of 16 as “revolutionary.”
Concluding her remarks, Minister Hebbalkar expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for sanctioning a degree college, a school for laborers’ children, and a hostel in the Belagavi Rural constituency. She stated these initiatives would provide enhanced opportunities for higher education for students residing in rural areas.
In summary, Minister Hebbalkar reiterated her conviction that the budget represents a balanced and people-oriented approach, reaffirming Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s commitment to guiding Karnataka towards continued development while ensuring inclusivity for all segments of society.
