Independence Day: CM says Karnataka's economy is robust, bolstered by guarantees
Delivering the Independence Day address at the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Parade Ground in Bengaluru on August 15, the Chief Minister said the State ranks first in the country in per capita income. Over the past decade, the State had achieved a growth of 101% in this indicator, from ₹1,01,858 at constant prices in 2013–14 to ₹2,04,605 in 2024–25.
Countering the argument that capital expenditure had taken a back seat owing to guarantees, he said, 'This year, we have allocated ₹83,200 crore for capital expenditure. Karnataka is among the leading States, with 20.1% of its budget dedicated to infrastructure development.'
Impact of good rains
The Chief Minister sought to argue that Karnataka focused on both agriculture and industry. He said that bountiful rains this year had particularly helped in augmenting agricultural and horticultural production. 'Compared to previous years, in 2024–25, we have broken all previous records in agricultural and horticultural output,' he said.
Pointing out that the previous government sought to privatise APMCs, handing over farmers' livelihoods to corporate capitalists, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, 'In contrast, our government strengthened APMCs, resulting in record arrivals of 164 lakh metric tonnes of agricultural products in 2024–25, a remarkable increase of 447%. This is the highest in the history of Karnataka's APMC.'
The government has allocated ₹51,339 crore for the agriculture sector in the 2025–26 budget, an increase of 52.34% compared to 2022–23.
Listing out measures for the industrial and tourism sectors, the Chief Minister said 18 industrial areas covering 44,166 acres have been declared Special Investment Regions. 'Investors have expressed interest in bringing in over ₹10 lakh crore in investments. Out of this, 48% has already been processed under Single Window IT Platform. Karnataka remains among the nation's leading industrial States, with the manufacturing sector contributing 23.6% to the State's GSDP, and our State ranks second nationally in foreign direct investment,' Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
On the other hand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that his government's guarantee schemes are 'transforming the trajectory of Karnataka's development'.
For better distribution
'Surveys by leading national institutions reveal a stark truth: the wealthiest 10% of our population hold 80% of the nation's wealth, yet they contribute only about 3% of the GST collected. The remaining 90% ordinary people, who work daily for food and clothing, shoulder nearly 97% of GST payments. How can any economy sustain itself under such circumstances? It is with the intention of finding answers to these very questions that we launched the guarantee schemes and other welfare programmes. Our government is spending more than ₹1.12 lakh crore on welfare measures, including guarantee schemes, subsidies, incentives, scholarships, social security pensions, and other social programmes,' he said.
'The ideology of Manuvad asserts that only the powerful should thrive while the rest remain as labourers and subordinates, an idea similar to Social Darwinism. In contrast, our Constitution stands firmly for Samvidhanvad, the principle that the weakest and most vulnerable must receive priority,' Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
'Committed to caste census, internal quota'
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the decision to conduct a social and educational survey of the backward classes (popularly called caste census) through the Karnataka Backward Classes Commission was taken to understand people's living conditions.
'Only accurate data can shape policies that transform lives and future schemes, which can provide special representation and targeted justice. To ignore this would be to betray both our Constitution and our freedom struggle. Hence, our government is serious about internal reservation within the Scheduled Castes and conducting a socio-educational survey of the backward classes,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
7 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Farmers to lay siege to Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on August 20
Members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers' Association will lay siege to the Vidhana Soudha on August 20, seeking the implementation of their long-pending demands. At a press conference here on Saturday, H. Bhagyaraj, president of the sugarcane growers' association, said that farmers will also hold a 'satyagraha' at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. Though the country celebrated Independence Day on August 15,there was little for farmers to celebrate as the government had failed to ensure scientific pricing for agricultural produce, he said. Mr. Bhagyaraj said that the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for 2025-26 should be fixed at ₹4,500 per ton, and harvesting and transportation costs must be borne by the sugar factories. The farmers also expressed concern that the weighing scales are not scientifically calibrated, as a result of which they suffer losses. This should be avoided by installing the weighing scales in front of the factories so that the farmers can monitor the process as well, they said. Mr. Bhagyaraj pointed out that the factories owed dues to the tune of ₹950 crores to sugarcane farmers, and added that this should be cleared immediately. Drawing attention to the shortage of fertilizers, the association said that the issue has been politicised by both the State and the Centre, and that it was the responsibility of the governments to ensure the availability of fertilizers and its smooth distribution. The authorities were urged to crack down on traders creating artificial scarcity by hoarding fertilizer stocks or selling them at a price higher than the rates fixed by the government. Mr. Bhagyaraj urged the government to implement the Mekedatu project without further delay, and blamed the Centre and the State for failing to expedite the works. The farmers stated that banks tend to insist on CIBIL scores before releasing agricultural loans, and hence urged the government to change the policy and delink CIBIL scores from farm loans. Any delay in repayment of loan due to crop failure or vagaries of nature has a negative bearing on the CIBIL score and affects the farmers, the association said. Drawing attention to the low penetration of crop insurance among farmers, the association said that the policy and insurance schemes should be tweaked to make a particular land of the farmer concerned as the unit area of insurance. When the unit area for crop insurance is too large, individual farmers suffer because damage to their crops may be overlooked and their claims rejected, if conditions in other parts of the area are considered normal, it added. Other demands included immediate release of ₹1,000 crore by way of incentives which is pending for dairy farmers, establishment of crop and milk procurement centres at the gram panchayat level, rescinding the Land Reforms Act and APMC (Amendment) Act, implementation of the recommendations of M.S. Swaminathan Committee, a law ensuring statutory guarantee of Minimum Support Price for farmers' produce, etc.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
SC verdict in case of sarpanch election in Haryana is a warning for BJP, says Raut
Nashik: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the Supreme Court verdict on the counting of votes polled through EVM for the sarpanch post of Haryana's Bavanu Lakhu village, where the SC reversed the presiding officer's decision after three years, indicates that BJP will cease to exist if the counting of EVM votes nationwide is conducted properly. Raut was in Nashik on Friday. Speaking to reporters, he said Mohit Kumar lost the sarpanch election in the village and challenged the results in higher courts until the case reached Supreme Court over about three years. "Mohit Kumar believed in what he claimed, that the presiding officer had transferred the votes meant for him into the name of the opponent. The SC got the votes counted. When we lose elections, we keep crying in the name of govt and election commission. Instead, what we need to do is challenge the decision in the court of law and stand by what we claim. If this happens, this will be a problem for BJP and it will cease to exist," said Raut. "This indicates that Narendra Modi was elected prime minister only through EVM scam. Same is the case with Devendra Fadnavis, who was elected Maharashtra chief minister," Raut added. Raut further pointed out that India is known as the spiritual country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo Still, BJP has turned it into a fanatic one, and people are now being divided based on faith, religion, and even caste. Regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Swadeshi" call, Raut said he adopted what Congress has been preaching all these years and Modi has started following in Congress's footsteps. On the local body elections, Raut said, "Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS would be contesting elections together even outside Mumbai, like in Nashik, Thane, and Kalyan Dombivali corporations, for which talks are being held." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
16 minutes ago
- Time of India
Girl dies, one hurt as school balcony collapses in Udaipur
Udaipur: In a grim reminder of the Jhalawar school tragedy, a 12-year-old girl died and another was injured when a balcony of the under-renovation PM Shree Govt Higher Primary School in Patharwadi village near Kotra in Udaipur district, collapsed on Independence Day, Friday. Earlier, on July 25, seven school children had died and several others were injured when a classroom roof and wall of a govt school collapsed due to rains at Piplodi village in Jhalawar district. In the latest mishap at Udaipur's Patharwadi village, the two girls, who were not students at the school, were playing nearby when the balcony gave way. Moli, visiting her uncle in the village, was crushed under the debris and died on the spot, while 11-year-old Payal sustained injuries and was subsequently hospitalized in Gujarat, police said. The mishap ignited protests among villagers, who alleged use of substandard materials in the school's renovation. "It is a tragic incident. One girl who was not a student at the school has died, while another girl, who was, is critically injured. I have asked the authorities to inquire about the matter," said school education minister Madan Dilawar. Kotra SHO Moongla Ram confirmed that the school's Independence Day celebrations were being held at a different location due to ongoing construction work. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Could This NEW Collagen Blend Finally Reduce Your Cellulite? Vitauthority Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola Dy SP Rajendra Singh Rathore noted that the renovation was part of the PM Shree scheme aimed at improving the school's dilapidated condition. In response to the mishap, the education department Saturday suspended acting assistant engineer Hem Singh and terminated the services of a civil consultant, holding them accountable for negligence. Their suspension will remain in effect pending the outcome of an investigation. Authorities have also ordered the registration of an FIR against the contractor firm, Messrs Divyanshi Enterprises, for lapses in the approved construction work. A high-level investigation has been initiated to determine the causes of the collapse and to fix accountability. As the inquiry unfolds, the office of the suspended AEN will be overseen by the additional district project coordinator of Samagra Shiksha, Udaipur. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
