From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Dec 26: Chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Tuesday that total 4.30 crore people have been the direct beneficiaries of the guarantees.
Criticising the BJP leaders for their snide remarks and attacks against the Shakti guarantee, he said the BJP leaders were jealous of the success of the Congress guarantees and asked why the BJP leaders did not bother to introduce pro-poor and women friendly welfare schemes when they were in power.
“The Congress government’s guarantees have resulted in improving the purchasing power of the people and have led to increased economic activity. The working classes, women and farmers and women from the poor working class families have been able to save substantial savings. The women and poor people have been utilising the money saved for buying essential things while the women have been able travel all over the State without bothering about the cost, thanks to the Shakti guarantee,’’ he said.
Putting an economic spin on the Congress government’s widely popular guarantees, the Chief Minister said a total 4.30 crore people have been the direct beneficiaries of the guarantees, which also has economic benefits as they boost the growth of economy.
Launching 100 e-buses to the BMTC fleet in front of Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said the Shakti guarantee of the Congress government has become very popular among women with 40 lac women availing the free bus ride in government buses daily. As many as 1400 electric buses will be added to the fleet of buses of Bengaluru Mahanagara Transport Corporation (BMTC).
A total of 120 crore women have already utilised the Shakti guarantee, he said the free bus ride for all women in government buses has become hugely popular as women of all religions and castes without any distinction of income have been utilising the free bus ride guarantee.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Transport Minister B Ramalinga Reddy, Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge, Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar, Sports Minister Nagendra, Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, legislators Rizwan Arshad, U B Venkatesh and Chief Minister’s Political Secretaries Govindaraju and Nasir Ahmed were among the dignitaries present.