Bangalore, August 27, (Karnataka Information):
“It is a privilege to address this esteemed gathering today, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share our state’s perspectives and initiatives in this crucial forum. Our state has been actively working towards a vision to foster inclusive growth, enhance governance, and address the unique challenges that our region faces. Although our work is in line with the objectives outlined by NITI Aayog and the Government of India, we believe we are going several steps ahead in promoting inclusion of the bottom 60 of the population, in terms of income, in the development agenda.”
As we gather here, we are at a pivotal moment where strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts can lead to transformative change.
Economic Development:
Our commitment to economic growth is unwavering. We have focused on leveraging our state’s unique strengths and resources to drive sustainable development. From bolstering infrastructure to promoting entrepreneurship, we are working towards creating an ecosystem that fosters innovation and attracts investment. We are also prioritizing the development of sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, technology led industries, etc. which are crucial for our state’s economy.
Karnataka, as you are aware, is a hub of research, innovation and high technology in semiconductor, space and aerospace sectors. 42% of India’s software exports emanate from Karnataka and 28% of the GSVA -Gross State Value Add of the state comes from computers, software and related production and exports.
Social Inclusion and Welfare: In line with our vision for equitable growth, we have launched a very ambitious inclusion agenda by providing direct income support to over 12 million families through direct benefit transfer. We call this agenda “Five Guarantees”.
Gruha Lakshmi – monthly cash support of Rs 2000 per woman head of the households. This programme reaches 12 million women by way of DBT to their Bank accounts.
Gruha Jyothi – Free domestic power to families up to 200 units. This benefits 14 million households.
Anna Bhagya – 10 KG of grain per person per month free of cost. In Karnataka in addition to the 5 KG of rice under the NFSA, which we give free, 5 more KGs of grain was promised. Since grain was not made available, we are giving cash of Rs 170 per person per month in lieu of grain. Over 12 million families are benefitting from this programme.
Shakti – Free bus travel in public buses to all women residents of Karnataka. So far women of Karnataka have taken more than 280 crore free trips under this programme. This programme has captured the imagination of women and has literally given them wings.
Yuva Nidhi – A monthly stipend of Rs 3,000 per month per graduate and Rs 1500 per month per diploma holder will given for 2 years or till the person finds a job. A total of 1.31 lakh youths have availed of this facility so far.
On the 5 Guarantees we are spending over 52,000 crore a year. This is perhaps the largest income support initiative by any state government.
Sustainable Development and Environment:
Sustainability is at the core of our development strategy. We are committed to environmental conservation and are implementing policies aimed at reducing our carbon footprint. For example, Karnataka is a leader in renewable energy. 53% of our installed capacity of 32 Giga Wats comes from renewable energy sources.
Our efforts also include protecting natural resources and encouraging sustainable agricultural practices. We recognize that environmental stewardship is essential for long-term prosperity and quality of life
Governance and Efficiency:
Effective governance is key to achieving our developmental goals. We are investing in technology and innovative solutions to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability in our administrative processes. For example we have a strong set of e-Governance solutions. Using these we were able to roll out the 5 guarantees in a record time of less than 3 month. Using our DBT module we are transferring over 54,000 crores to the beneficiaries directly into their bank accounts
By adopting e-governance tools and fostering a culture of responsiveness, we aim to improve service delivery and citizen engagement.
Collaboration with NITI Aayog:
Our partnership with NITI Aayog has been instrumental in shaping our development strategies. We appreciate the guidance and support provided and are keen to continue collaborating on various Initiatives.We believe that through shared knowledge, resources, and expertise, we can address the challenges we face and unlock new opportunities for growth. In conclusion, I want to emphasize our state’s dedication to contributing to the collective vision of a progressive and prosperous India. We are committed to working together with all stakeholders to achieve our common goals and make a positive impact on the lives of our citizens.
Thank you for this opportunity to present our state’s initiatives and aspirations. I look forward to our discussions and the productive outcomes that will emerge from this meeting.
