Last Updated: February 16, 2024, 11:12 IST
Siddaramaiah’s budget offers a glimpse into the ruling Congress’s agenda before the Lok Sabha elections, expected to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
Amid opposition attacks on Congress over appeasement, the Siddaramaiah government allocated Rs 100 crore for waqf properties, Rs 200 crore for Christian community and Rs 20 crore for pilgrimage sites.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the state budget on Friday (February 16). Amid opposition attacks on Congress over appeasement, the Siddaramaiah government allocated Rs 100 crore for waqf properties, Rs 200 crore for Christian community and Rs 20 crore for pilgrimage sites.
The Congress government also earmarked Rs 10 crore for the construction of Haj Bhavan in Mangalore and announced that 100 Maulana Azad schools will be opened in the state.
The CM further said that ‘Tripitakas’, the sacred texts of the Buddhist community, will be translated into Kannada, and necessary grants will be allocated for the same.
Further, the Chief Minister said that 50 women-run cafes with the name of Cafe Sanjeevini will be launched across the State during this year for Rs 7.50 crore. “These canteens will cater to the demand and supply gap in rural areas for healthy, hygienic and affordable cooked food and traditional local cuisine,” he said.
The government also announced the revision of the Tourism policy for 2024-29 to attract more tourists and investors to make full use of the tourism potential of the State. “Anjanadri Hills and surrounding areas of Koppal district hold mythological and historical importance, Rs 100 crore will be provided to develop tourism in these areas,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah also mentions the tax devolution issue and noted that while introducing the Goods and Services Tax, the Union Government had assured that there would be growth of 14 per cent and states would be compensated in case of shortage in revenue growth.
“At a projected growth rate of 14 per cent, it was estimated that the GST tax collection would be Rs. 4,92,296 crore from 2017 to 2023-24. However, only Rs 3,26,764 crore GST revenue was collected and against the GST shortfall of Rs. 1,65,532 crore, the Central Government had released Rs 1,06,258 crore as compensation to the state. Hence, a loss of Rs 59,274 crore was incurred by the state due to unscientific implementation of GST in the last 7 years,” he said.
