From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 21: In a scathing attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP government at the Centre, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday told the Legislative Assembly that the BJP Government at the Centre has massively cut funds for Integration of Child Development Programme (ICDS), a flagship programme.
“Is this the concern you have towards welfare of children and women, particularly Anganwadi workers,’’ said Siddaramaiah and termed the Modi government as “anti-women.”
Following drastic cut in funds, the Centre’s has reduced its share of funds in the implementation of the ICDS from 90 per cent during UPA regime to barely 60 per cent in 2017-18.
Replying to the Opposition BJP and JD(S) demand for increasing the honorarium for Anganawadi workers from the present Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 per month, the Chief Minister said the reduction of allocation has burdened the State government.
The honorarium for assistants has been increased from Rs 1500 during 2007-08 to Rs 7000 in 2017-18, he said.
Out of the Rs 7,000 monthly honorarium, Centre contributes a meagre R 1800 while the State share is a whopping Rs 5200, Siddaramaiah said and asked how can we pay with our limited resources.
When the Chief Minister showed no inclination towards increasing honorarium, the JD(S) and BJP members rushed to well of the House and staged a dharna.
Siddaramaiah criticised the BJP members’ stubborn attitude and said meagre of Rs 700 was hiked during five year rule of the BJP.
BJP Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar said the Chief Minister was misleading the house by providing wrong data.
JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy said increase of honorarium to Rs 10,000 a month would cost the State exchequer an additional Rs 612 crore in the Rs 1.86 lakh crore budget, which was negligible.
The BJP and the JD(S) members withdrew their dharna in the Assembly in the evening after Siddaramaiah assured the House of holding consultations with the representatives of protesting Anganawadi workers on April 19 on their demands.
Making it clear that the State Government had an “open mind” on the demands of the Anganawadi workers, Siddaramaiah said he would discuss their demands elaborately on April 19.
“Anganwadi workers’ union leader Varalaxmi, Nidumamidi Math seer Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamiji, progressive thinker Marulasiddappa and CPM leader Maruthi Manpade met me today to discuss about the protest by Anganwadi workers in Bengaluru. I have conveyed to them about the decision to hold a meeting on April 19 and they have agreed to attend the meeting,” the Chief Minister said.
“We will do our best to solve the problem and help the Anganawadi workers unlike the heartless Modi government at the Centre,’’ he said taunting the BJP members.