From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 28: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who addressed his first press conference with media representatives on Wednesday, announced that a full-fledged cabinet will be constituted soon.
Pointing out that he has been unanimously elected as the leader of the State BJP Legislature Party under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President J P Nadda with the full support of his predecessor B S Yediyurappa, the Chief Minister said he will ensure that a people-friendly, honest, transparent and efficient administration will be provided and all decisions of the government will be implemented in a time-bound manner.
He said he held his first meeting with all senior officials in Vidhana Soudha and later on held a cabinet meeting with the Chief Secretary P Ravikumar and announced that a new scholarship scheme involving a total cost of Rs 1000 crore will be implemented to encourage the children of farmers to pursue higher education.
Hike in Pensions
The other decisions announced by the Chief Minister are:
(1). Rs 200 increase in the pension amount to the aged people under the SandhyaSuraksha scheme from the present Rs 1000 a month to Rs 1200, which will involve an additional outlay of Rs 863.52 crore and benefit 35.98 lakh persons.
(2). A similar Rs 200 hike in the widow pension from the present Rs 600 to Rs 800 a month involving additional outlay of Rs 414 crore and benefit 17.25 lakh widows.
(3). A Rs 200 hike in the monthly pension amount for the physically challenged persons having 40-75% disability costing an additional Rs 90 crore to benefit 3.66 lakh persons.
Bommai announced that the State Government will take more pro-people and welfare measures to help those in financial difficulties as part of the strategy of ensuring social security to the vulnerable people. The government is committed to the empowerment of poorer sections, especially Dalits, backward classes and women, he said.
5% cut in wasteful expenditure
The Chief Minister said he has already told the officials on the priorities of his administration, which should be honest, pro-people and resolutely committed to protect the interests of the poor, farmers, daily wage earners and the working classes.
The government’s actions and decisions must speak for themselves and instil confidence among the people. Inter-departmental cooperation, coordination and micro-level management to ensure delivery of results and avoiding delays must be the guiding principles, he said.
The Chief Minister said the Covid pandemic has caused immense problems and difficulties besides leading to economic slowdown, loss of revenue to the government as well as loss of lives and livelihood. Therefore, the government has decided to enforce a 5% cut in all wasteful expenditure. A concerted file clearance drive will be carried out to ensure that all the pending files will be disposed in a fortnight, he said.
Control and management of the Covid situation, ensuring financial discipline in the administration, stepping up resource mobilisation, avoiding delays in implementation of government programmes and relief and rehabilitation of the flood affected people will the priorities of the government, he added.