From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 15: Underscoring the need for giving primacy to Karnataka’s official language of Kannada, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday reiterated that "imposition of some other language is unacceptable."

"Every State has its own official language and our Constitution recognizes the primacy of that language in the State to the exclusion of other languages," he said and made it clear that "imposition of any other language in a State is unconstitutional and it is against the spirit of Formation of States on Linguistic basis."

Addressing a large gathering of citizens, ministers and senior government officials as also armed personnel at the Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds in Bengaluru on a rain-soaked Tuesday morning after unfurling the national tricolour on the occasion of the country’s 71st Independence Day, he said the concept of cooperative federalism mandates that while local language primacy cannot be compromised, opportunities could be given to learn other languages too.

In his 30 minute speech, he said the greatness of India lay in its pluralistic society with many languages, cultures and communities.

"The strength of our nation lies in the fact that all these not only co-exist but are flourishing by retaining their respective identities within the democratic set-up as ordained by our Constitution," he said asserting "This is unity not only in diversity but also unity through diversity."

Siddaramaiah’s assertion on the State Government’s resolve to grant primacy to Kannada in the State comes in the backdrop of the huge public protest against the imposition of Hindi language from central government and his direction to Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials to remove the Hindi signboards in Metro stations across Bengaluru. The Chief Minister had also mooted the idea of a separate flag for Karnataka by constituting a nine-member committee of officials and leading Kannada writers and activists.

"The concept of co-operative federalism mandates that while local language’s primacy cannot be compromised, opportunities could be given to learn other languages too," he declared.

3rd World Kannada Meet

The Culture Policy of the State has been brought into operation which is a glittering feather in our cap justifying the rich heritage of our Kannada Language and Culture, he said and announced that the Government is organizing third World Kannada Conference in a befitting manner. "We propose to showcase to the world not only our achievements in every sphere of life, but also the exquisite and unique quality of grandeur of our land and language," he said.

He lamented that the country was witnessing the phenomena of communalism and casteism raising their ugly heads all around, joined by fascist forces.

"This is a very dangerous development about which all right thinking citizens are concerned," he said.

The Chief Minister said religion is a personal matter. It is sacrilegious to derive political benefit by sowing seeds of hatred amongst persons, communities and religious sects. Today, the time has come to pledge ourselves to the task of annihilating those divisive forces actively promoting these kinds of practices, which are nothing but anti-national, he said.

Karnataka Development Model

The Chief Minister said the Congress government’s concept of development is based on inclusiveness that aims to usher in improved level of standard of living. "I am proud to name this as the Karnataka Development Model," he declared.

"The sources of inspiration behind this development model, Siddaramaiah said, were the architects of social justice, gram swaraj and democratic socialism – Basavanna, Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar, respectively, besides, host of other illustrious political and social thinkers.

Without directly referring to the ongoing controversy over the demand by a large section of Lingayats to be treated as a separate religion and be granted the status of being a religious minority on lines of the benefits conferred on Jainism, Buddhism or Sikhism rather remain part of the Hindu religion, the Chief Minister spoke at length about the tenets of Basavanna’s teachings, who is considered the founder of the Lingayat religion which is distinct from Veerashaivas.

"The ideals of Kayaka and Dasoha propounded by Basavanna have greatly influenced our style of governance," asserted Siddaramaiah and pointed out that "it is befitting that our Government made it mandatory to display the portrait of Basavanna in all the Government Offices in the State. This decision demonstrates the singular commitment of our Government for building a society comprising Anna, Jnana and Seva as dreamt by Basavanna."

While gratefully acknowledging the self-less and supreme sacrifice made by scores of freedom fighters, who freed the nation from the shackles of slavery, the Chief Minister said: “Our government firmly believes that economic freedom along with political freedom to the poor is the best way to celebrate Independence Day, meaningfully."

"The prime objective of democracy is that power, wealth and opportunities ought to be equitably distributed to all sections of people. This was Dr Ambedkar’s wish. This is the earnest desire of our government too,” he declared.

"Our Government firmly believes that economic freedom along with political freedom to the poor is the best way to celebrate Independence day, meaningfully," he said adding: "The prime objective of democracy is that power, wealth and opportunities ought to be equitably distributed to all sections of people. This was Dr B R Ambedkar’s wish. This is the earnest desire of our Government too. Let us experience freedom, enjoy freedom and build a strong India."

Explaining the various pro-people welfare measures and programmes implemented by the Congress government in the State during the last four and half years, he said hunger-free Karnataka was the motto of our Government on the very day it came to power.

Through the much-acclaimed Anna Bhagya Yojana, about four crore people in the State are being provided with seven kilo grams of rice every month, free of cost, so that, each of them has two meals, daily. Under this scheme, Tur Dal is also being provided at subsidized rates.

"The salutary effect of the scheme is that the wages, which was hither to spent on rice can now be used for other purposes for improving their standards of living," he said.

The efficacy of Anna Bhagya Yojana is evident by the fact that despite the State reeling under severe drought for the last three consecutive years, no deaths occurred due to hunger and no migration of labour and none went to bed without food, the Chief Minister said.

Quit India Movement

"We have just a week back observed the 75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement, a decisive milestone in our freedom struggle," he said and mentioned that it was our patriotic duty to remember with utmost gratitude all those who laid their lives and suffered immensely during that movement.

Siddaramaiah said: "We are having a peaceful night’s sleep in the safe confines of our homes. The credit for this peaceful life should entirely go to our ever vigilant and courageous soldiers guarding our frontiers. Let us pay our respectful homage to those soldiers, who laid down their lives fighting the enemy as well as salute those, including the uniformed forces who continue to fight the evil forces threatening to undermine the unity and integrity of our nation as well as its internal security."

"Ours is not just a lip sympathy for the welfare of soldiers," he said mentioned that we always pay our gratitude from our heart and through our actions. "In view of this, we have decided to provide Government jobs for one dependent of the soldiers from Karnataka, who are martyred or permanently disabled in war or war-like situation," he said.

The fact that our Government’s heart beats for lactating mothers and pregnant women is evident from the Mathru Poorna Yojana under which they are provided with mid-day meals. The scheme would be extended to all Anganwadis from October 2 this year to commemorate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, he said pointing out that about 12 lac persons are expected to avail the benefit under this scheme.

"I am happy to announce that from tomorrow (August 16), Indira Canteens are being opened in all the 198 wards of the city to feed people from the labour class and poor migrants to the city of Bengaluru," he said adding: "In the first phase, Indira Canteens are proposed to be started in 101 wards."

"Our Government is committed to the welfare of the student community and it is our endeavour to ensure that they are not deprived of quality education because of lack of basic amenities. We have effectively implemented the Right to Education Act with a view to provide education for all as per the constitutional mandate," he explained.

Siddaramaiah said school children are being provided mid-day meals with milk being provided five days a week to school and anganwadi children numbering about 1.08 crore and eggs are given to anganwadi children two days in a week to cater to their nutritional needs.

The Chief Minister said every year five lac youth are proposed to be trained under the Kaushalya Karnataka Scheme making them to be employable as per the present day market needs.

About 1.5 lac students pursuing medical, engineering, polytechnic courses and first grade government and aided colleges are being provided with laptops, free of cost, so that, they are attracted to the present day Information Technology based education, he said.

Ambedkar School of Economics

The Chief Minister said: "I am very pleased to announce that Dr B R Ambedkar School of Economics has been established in Bengaluru to commemorate the 125th Birth Anniversary of the Architect of the Constitution."

As many as 23 new hostels are proposed to be started in the Government Polytechnics to improve the enrolment of girls in technical education. An exclusive programme called Jnana Nagara is being enunciated to upgrade higher education in the State to international standards.

A New University is being established in Raichur to promote and encourage higher education in Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Colleges in the districts of Raichur and Yadgir would be brought under the purview of this University.

Towards declaring the State as kerosene free, effective steps are being taken to provide cooking gas connection free of cost to poor families having no such connections. For those who surrender their kerosene entitlement, rechargeble LED lights are proposed to be provided, free of cost, under the Punar Belaku Yojana.

"Agriculture has been accorded primacy in every budget that I have presented so far I have earmarked a major share of our State’s revenue to Agriculture. This year’s budget is no exception to this trend," he said adding the various schemes and programmes being implemented by the Government as part of its inclusive development agenda.

An amount of Rs 10 crore has been earmarked this year to provide financial and other necessary support to most talented 1000 young sportspersons under the Karnataka Sahasra Keeda Prathibha Yojana. Under Yuva Chaitanya Programme, 2000 Sports Associations would be provided with sports equipment worth Rs one lac each.

Two Sports Science Centres, each at a cost of Rs 2 crore are being established. Fitness Centre-cum-Gyms of international standards are being set up, each at a cost of Rs 2 crore in Belagavi, Mysuru, Bengaluru and Udupi, he said.

Building a healthy society is one of the foremost aspirations of freedom, he said pointing out that during the last four years, 93 lac members have been enrolled under Yashaswini Scheme for which Rs 555 crore has been spent. Among these are 33 lac Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe members, who have been enrolled free of cost. One crore members have been provided with free insurance coverage. Further, 31,561 patients with kidney-related disorders have been put under dialysis, 1.6 lac times.

Infant Mortality Rate has been brought down from 31 to 28 in the State. Similarly, Maternal Mortality Rate has come down from 178 to 133. Super Speciality Hospitals, each at a cost of Rs 25 crore, are being set up in Davanagere, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Vijayapura and Kolar to cater to the patients suffering from cancer and heart related ailments, he mentioned.