MYSORE: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came down heavily on the Opposition for criticising the government over the implementation of welfare programmes for the poor and claimed that people are with his government.
“We are not worried over BJP’s criticism on Anna Bhagya and other welfare programmes. Only those who have come up from humble background and poverty can respond to the pulse of the people,” he said.
Speaking after launching various development works in Hunsur in the district on Saturday, he said the welfare programmes are for the upliftment of poor of all communities and not designed to cater only to AHINDA communities.
He said that Congress performed poor in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election despite the State government performing well on all fronts and implementing 95 of 165 promises assured in its manifesto.
Maintaining that it is not a mandate on his government, he said that party respects people’s verdict.
Siddaramaiah said the government has released `1,800 crore for Cauvery Neeravari Nigam, `300 crore for modernisation of the 300-year-old irrigation canal system in Hunsur taluk and `200 crore for the modernisation of Harangi Right Bank Canal.
He said the government is keen to check the middlemen’s menace in the execution of programmes and evaluate its welfare schemes.
Siddaramaiah said the government has decided to hold food adalats on the seventh day of every month.
The number of complaints has drastically fallen after holding pension adalats, he added.
He said the government has also decided to extend Mythri scheme to all transgenders.
He said that the government has allocated `3,500 crore as subsidy to Anna Bhagya scheme, `11,200 crore to irrigation projects, `170 crore support price for procurement of food grains and horticulture crops and other programmes in the State.
He said the government has released grants to all the constituencies cutting across party lines.
Siddaramaiah praised Hunsur MLA H P Manjunath for getting various development works sanctioned, particularly those related to irrigation and infrastructure.
Ministers V Srinivasa Prasad, H C Mahadevappa and others spoke on the occasion.