Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Oct 23: "Both the government and Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) aim at making agriculture a profitable proposition. We want to improve the quality of lives of the rural folk. Schemes of the government succeed only when people actively participate in them. When this dream of ours come true, democracy in its real sesnse, would be truly established," said chief minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah.
He was speaking after disbursing dividend of Rs 201 crore earned by two lac members of self help groups formed under SKDRDP at Amrutavarshini Hall of Dharmasthala on the evening of Sunday October 22.
"With the divine grace of Lord Manjunatha, the state has received good rainfall this year. When it rains, we see radiance and smiles in the faces of farmers. Government does not have the capability of making people happy and contented. Rain alone can achieve this objective. Self help groups have helped people to lead a life of self reliance and self respect. Dharmasthala establishment, thankfully, has not confined itself to religious activities alone, but through its rural development project, contributed immensely to the prosperity of the state," he stated.
Siddaramaiah revealed that 500 Indira canteens would be opened in the state by January 1 and one of them will function in this town. He explained that these canteens have been planned to enable daily wagers and labourers to get food at minimum cost. "Integrated health scheme will come into force from November 14 onward this year. We have been providing milk to 1.02 crore children five days a week under 'Ksheera Bhagya' scheme. Our government has dug 1.6 crore agricultural pits and thereby recharged underground water table. Rs 800 crore has been set aside for this purpose alone during this year. Karnataka happens to be the first ever state to have provided online market for farm products. The income of farmers has grown by 38 percent because of this initiative. We have been distributing rice free of cost and our goal is to achieve hunger-free Karnataka. We have also been providing interest-free loans to Stree Shakti self help groups," Siddaramaiah explained.
On this occasion, the chief minister extended best wishes on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Dr Veerendra Heggade's ordainment as Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala on behalf of the people of the state. He wished that Heggade will continue to serve people for long, and also prayed to the almighty to grant long life to Heggade's wife, Hemavathi V Heggade, to enable her to continue to support her husband's initiatives as of now.
On this occasion, Dharmadhikari, Dr Heggade, distributed subsidy for purchase of agricultural machines under a newly started scheme. He said that silt and sediment of over a hundred ponds and lakes has been removed and under a scheme of insuring the lives of farmers who have raised loans from banks, insurance cover has been provided up to Rs 10,000 at a premium of Rs 20. He said more stress will be laid on organic farming and environmental protection in the coming days. Dr Heggade said that with the support of successive governments and voluntary service organizations, poverty of the people has been driven away and people are now able to live with self respect.
Chairman of Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation and local MLA, K Vasant Bangera, presided over the programme. Forest minister, B Ramanath Rai, food and civil supplies minister, U T Khader, law minister, T B Jayachandra, energy minister, D K Shivakumar, municipal administration minister, Ishwar B Khandre, legislative council whip, Ivan D'Souza, MLAs, Moideen Bava, Shakuntala Shetty, K Abhay Chandra Jain, Vinay Kumar Sorake and Gopal Poojary, president of Pragathi Krishna Grameena Bank, R Ravikumar, State Bank of India officer, Panchakshari Joshi, Vijaya Bank general manager, S Sathish Ballal, Canara Bank general manager, Anil Kumar P, Syndicate Bank general manager, K Sathish Kamath, IDBI Bank deputy general manager, N Srinivas, Corporation Bank deputy general manager, E S Nagaraj Udupa, Hemavathi V Heggade, D Harshendra Kumar, chairperson of Karnataka Children's Rights Protection Commission, Krupa Alva, and several others were present.
SKDRDP executive director, Dr L H Manjunath, welcomed. director, Boodappa Gowda, project officer, Leelavathi, and coordinative officer, Aswhini, compered the programme.