Prog for improving govt schools

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said the state government will come out with a comprehensive programme for improvement of government schools in the state budget for year 2019-20.

Replying to a question by B Sriramulu (BJP), he said information regarding infrastructure, availability of basic amenities, teachers in government schools was being collected.

He said supply of bicycles for government and aided school students had not been scrapped but only temporarily stopped. "There were complaints regarding the quality of bicycles. I have only ordered an inquiry but not scrapped the scheme,” he said.

Also read: Pathetic state of government schools

Norms for KLLADS funds to be eased

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said the state government will relax the guidelines for utilisation of funds allotted under Karnataka Legislators’ Local Area Development Scheme (KLLADS).

Replying to a question by Haladi Srinivasa Shetty (BJP) in the Legislative Assembly, Kumaraswamy said the government will provide the annual grant of Rs two crore under KLLADS in one shot instead of the present system of providing the allocation in eight installments. Members cutting across party lines said that the grants be increased from Rs two crore to Rs five crore.

Kumaraswamy said already Rs 939 crore of KLLADS grants had remained unused. The members said stringent norms prevented them from effectively utilising the funds.

DH had reported on Monday that Rs 939 crore funds under the KLLADS were unspent.

Ambedkar's portrait at Suvarna Soudha

Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar said a portrait of architect of Indian constitution B R Ambedkar will be installed inside the Legislative Assembly hall in Survana Soudha in Belagavi within a week.

Ramesh Kumar said he will also write to Council Chairman K Prathap Chandra Shetty to take a similar measure in the Upper House.