From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Feb 17: The B S Yediyurappa regime is planning to come out with a series of measures to improve the investment climate in Karnataka and thereby attract investments in the industrial sector.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala, in his address to the joint session of Karnataka legislature, said on Monday said the State Government is coming out with several steps for improving investment climate in the State and it would soon bring out a new industrial policy and set up a bio-incubator to nurture and support start-ups in areas of bio-pharma.
The state government will announce the new industrial policy soon to promote standalone and grid-connected solar-powered agricultural pumps.
In his 20-page address in Hindi to the joint session of the State legislature, Vala said Karnataka ranked second in the country as an investment destination by attracting investment of Rs 71,745 crore up to November 2019.
The State Government has initiated action to unveil the new industrial policy for attracting investment, new technologies, and generation of jobs, with a focus on comprehensive industrial development in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, he said.
The bio-incubator to nurture and support startups has been set up in collaboration with Manipal Academy for Higher Education (MAHE).
He said the State Government has already announced a new textile and garment policy 2019 for the development of textile and ready-made sector.
It has also set up the ‘Karnataka Innovation Authority’ to further strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
Hike in Honorarium
The Governor said the State Government has enhanced the monthly remuneration of ASHA workers from Rs 3,500 to 4,000 with effect from November 2019 and has released one-time payment of Rs3000 ASHA workers as an incentive for having transferred data to RCH software application.
The monthly honorarium of the anganwadi workers has been increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 and monthly of anganwadi helpers from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,250.
It has decided to distribute Bhagyalakshmi bonds pending for about two years to eligible beneficiaries.
Karnataka secures first rank
Karnataka stood first in the country in increasing forest cover, reduction in maternal deaths, and to layout a fiscal consolidation roadmap to improve the state’s finances.
The State is second largest milk producer in the country and a sum of Rs 691 crore has been released for payment of incentive of Rs5 per litre of milk to nearly nine lakh dairy farmers till the end of December 2019.
The Governor said 276 Karnataka public schools have been started from Standard 1 to 12 by integrating nearby primary, high schools and Pre University colleges with an objective to enhance the quality of education.
A novel concept of “Water Bell” has been introduced in shcools to prevent dehydration in school children. With regard to health, Vala said mobile mammography and cervical cancer diagnostic units have been sanctioned to 10 districts where cancer diagnostic facilities are not available in the district hospitals.