Cabinet nod to implement nutrition scheme

Briefing reporters about the cabinet decision, Higher Education Minister V S Acharya said the scheme will be implemented in Shikaripura, Bellary rural and Gubbi Assembly constituencies at a cost of Rs five crore.

Besides providing nutritious food to children and senior citizens, efforts will be made to bring in awareness on nutrition, health and hygiene under the scheme. Former IAS officer Veena Sriram has been appointed as the nodal officer to implement the scheme.

Besides, the Cabinet decided to allow enrolment of children born between April 2010 and April 2011 under the Bhagyalakshmi scheme as per the old guidelines. For all those children born after April 1, 2011, new guidelines will apply.

Under the new guidelines, the parents should have permanent BPL cards. But as per the old guidelines, parents were allowed to enroll their girl children under the scheme with a temporary BPL card.

The Cabinet has also decided to increase the share capital of Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation from Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore. There has been growing demand for educational loan to be disbursed by the Corporation at 2 per cent interest to students.

Hence, the Cabinet increased the share capital by Rs 50 crore.

Land grant

The Cabinet has granted land to a private firm and a religious institution in and around Bangalore.

They are: Pelekamma Mahadeshwara Temple (27 gunta in Singasandra village in Bangalore south taluk) and the Standard Brick Company (0.11 gunta at Yelahanka). Besides, 1.35 acre of land near Kengeri has been given on lease for 30 years to Sri Nirmalananda Trust and exemption has been given on land conversion charges to Sri Vishwachetana Kuvempu Adyatma Kendra on 10 acres of land in Channapatna.

Other decisions

*  Construction of Haj Bhavan at Tirumenahalli in Yelahanka at a cost of Rs 40 cr
*  Deadline for Karasamadhan-3 extended to June 30
*  Administrative approval to file a review before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal seeking clarification and guidance on B scheme award
*  Change alignment on east-west corridor of Namma Metro approved
*  Construction of a flyover at Kittur Rani Channamma circle in Bangalore approved