From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, May 19: Warmly congratulating Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on winning the 2014 Lok Sabha poll battle to become Prime Minister of the country, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday hoped that the Centre would extend full support and cooperation to the State Government.
Addressing a news conference in Bangalore on Monday to mark the completion of the Congress government in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said Central Government has to cooperate with the State government as per the provisions of the constitution and the State will expect full cooperation from the Centre.
''I wish all the best to Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi. We are expecting full cooperation from the Modi Government," he said adding: ''In a federal structure, the State and Centre has to function in accordance with the constitution."
Replying to a query whether he would expect cooperation from the BJP led government at the Centre during the remaining term of the government, the Chief Minister said: ''The Centre has to cooperate with us as per the constitutional provisions. The Central government has to follow the constitutional provisions."
''It is a sort of role reversal in the State. When the Congress-led UPA regime was in power at the Centre, BJP ruled the State and now when the Congress is in power in the State, BJP has come back to power. But this is quite normal in a democratic set-up. The State and Central governments will have to work together," he said pointing out that the Manmohan Singh government had also cooperated with the BJP government in the State and other opposition-ruled State Governments.
The Chief Minister was speaking after releasing a 108-page booklet on achievements of the Congress government led by him during the last one year under the title, ''Nudidanthe Nadediddeve" (Delivered on the Promises).
The State Government completed one-year in office on May 13. The release of the booklet on achievements of the government was delayed on account of enforcement of model code of conduct, he said.
Despite enforcement of poll code of conduct for three months in the last one year due to different elections, Siddaramaiah said he was proud of the fact that his government had implemented 90 out of the 160 promises made in the Congress manifesto during the 2013 elections to the State Legislative Assembly.
During the last one year, the government has presented the revised state budget for 2013-14 and the full budget for 2014-15.
The government has implemented Anna Bhagya and Ksheera Bhayga schemes and extended welfare benefits to below poverty line families and schoolchildren, respectively. The subsidy amount for the Anna Bhagya scheme increased from Rs 900 crore to Rs 4300 crore a year on account of distribution of rice to 1.02 crore BPL families at one rupee per kg (total 30 kg a month) a family.
Under the Ksheera Bhagya scheme, milk was being supplied to 1.04 crore schoolchildren studying from first to 10th standard and 39 lakh anganwadi children. A total of 8.5 lakh litres of milk was being supplied for schoolchildren a day.
The Chief Minister said the government’s aim was to make Karnataka free from hunger.
''Karnataka will be one among the five top ranking progressive states in the country in the next four years," he declared.
Efforts would be made to address challenges in areas of power, drinking water and implementation of pending irrigation projects.
A total of 3.5 lakh houses would be constructed in 2014-15 against construction of 3.17 houses in 2013-14. The housing subsidy has been increased from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.20 lakh a unit.
"Another aim of my government is to make the State free from hutments," the Chief Minister said.
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has constructed 5.05 lakh houses against the target of six lakh houses in the last fiscal year. The Article 371J of the Constitution was implemented to give a special status to the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, he said.
Tax collection recorded at Rs 60,652 crore in 2013-14 against the target of Rs 62,464 crore, an achievement of 97 per cent. The target was not achieved on account reduction in the registration of properties and motor vehicles, he said.
Most of the Cabinet Ministers were present at the news conference.