Well ahead of Assembly elections, promises are the norm. On Sunday, it was the turn of State JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy.
The former chief minister, at a party workers’ meeting, said if the JD(S) was voted to power, the party would give Rs 5,000 monthly assistance to pregnant women below poverty line. The financial assistance will help mother and child secure nutritious food, he said. “To implement the plan, nearly Rs 150 crore would be required, which would not burden the State exchequer.”
Similary, a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 will be given to the physically-challenged. Also, 35 programmes will be specially designed for differently- abled persons, he said.
The programmes will be announced on October 28 at a party convention in Bangalore. He accused the BJP government of discontinuing Bhagyalakshmi scheme. “Pension to the aged are not given on time. When voted to power, our party will increase the pension to Rs 1,500. Even allowance for widows will be increased.”