Emphasising the need to sink differences over caste and religion, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that everyone should unite to take the State on the path of progress.
Speaking at the Sri Revanasiddeshwara Pattabhisheka Mahotsav (anointment ceremony) at Kendada Mutt in Bankapur of Shiggaon taluk in Haveri district on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that Karnataka should be a land of peace and harmony.
He said that the Government was committed to the principle of happiness and progress of all and the Government schemes included those for the welfare of the SCs, STs, and backward communities. “The State Government is marching ahead on the path of progress with the motto of building a new Karnataka for new India,” he said.
Elaborating on the Government’s initiatives on development, he said that ₹43,000 crore had been provided in the State budget for education, health, women, and welfare programmes. Another ₹40,000 crore had been allocated for various schemes for the welfare of children and development of anganwadis, Mr. Bommai said and noted that the Vidya Nidhi programme had benefitted six lakh families of farmers. Around 10 lakh families would be covered under the scheme during the current year, he said.
Bankapur being a historic place, efforts were on to develop it as a model taluk in Karnataka. And for the purpose, a special grant of ₹20 crore had been released. By December end, 250 houses would be handed over to the beneficiaries, he said.
Lamb gifted
The Chief Minister who inaugurated the programme by beating the dollu (traditional drum) was gifted a lamb, named as Mailari, by various seers. Sri Basavayya Swami of Kendada Mutt, Sri Gurushantheshwar Swami of Madana Hipparagi, Shanthaveereshwar Shivacharya Swami of Hiremath, and Sri Revanasiddeshwara Swami who was anointed as the new seer were present.
