MYSURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, stressing that his government is working to empower people socially and economically through welfare programmes, as promised during the elections, said, “You cannot fill people’s stomachs with fancy words”.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Dasara festival, Siddaramaiah recalled that he and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had taken a vow at the Chamundeshwari Temple to implement five guarantee schemes if they won the elections. “Within eight months of winning, we have already launched all five schemes”, he stated, according to a release from the Chief Ministers Office on Thursday.
These schemes, Siddaramaiah explained, are designed to strengthen the weaker sections of society both socially and economically, as envisioned by the Constitution. He mentioned that each beneficiary family is receiving an annual financial support of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 through the five guarantee programmes, the release added.
Under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, 1.21 crore women heads of families are getting Rs 2,000 per month. The Gruha Jyoti scheme provides free electricity to 1.40 crore households. Additionally, under the Yuva Nidhi scheme, 1.82 lakh unemployed graduates and diploma holders are receiving financial assistance, it added.
Because of the good rainfall this year, Siddaramaiah said he had instructed that the Dasara festival should be celebrated in a grand manner. “Dasara is a festival of the people, not just for officials. Everyone should participate in large numbers”, he urged.
This year’s Dasara festival was officially inaugurated by renowned Kannada and Jain literature scholar Dr HamPa Nagarajaiah. Siddaramaiah praised him for his contributions to Kannada literature, calling him an outstanding writer.
“His selection to inaugurate the Dasara celebraton is fitting and well-deserved”, he said, as per the statement. Siddaramaiah also appreciated Nagarajaiah’s speech, where he condemned efforts to overthrow elected governments through undemocratic means, calling them “anti-democratic actions.” Nagarajaiah’s emphasis on strengthening democracy was timely, Siddaramaiah noted, the press release said.
It added that Siddaramaiah emphasized that his government came to power with the people’s blessings, who gave them a five-year mandate. “No matter the challenges we face, with the grace of Goddess Chamundeshwari, we will govern for the full five years,” he affirmed.”Truth always prevails,” he said, expressing confidence that as long as the people’s blessings are with his government, no one can stop them.
Reflecting on his political career, he noted that he had won five times and lost three times in his constituency, the release added. “It is by the grace of Goddess Chamundeshwari and the people here that I have become Chief Minister for the second time. I have not committed any mistakes so far. If I had, I wouldn’t have survived this long in politics”, he remarked.
He expressed his faith in the judiciary and said he always acts according to his conscience, it added. Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, he said, “Conscience is the highest court, above all others”. He added that he has always acted with a clear conscience.
Inaugurating the Dasara Film Festival, Siddaramaiah assured that the government would continue to support the development of the Kannada film industry and urged people to watch movies in theaters, the release stated. Siddaramaiah also announced the government’s decision to build a film city on 150 acres in Immavu village near Mysuru.
During his previous term as Chief Minister, 110 acres were allocated for the project, and an additional 50 acres have now been identified for the second phase of expansion. “It is the government’s goal to create a model film city, and we plan to complete it within three years”, he added. (ANI)