JOIN USChief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Sunday that the government would allot sites and extend financial support for the construction of hostels for the Idiga community students in all districts.
Speaking at the Arya Idiga community convention at the Palace Grounds here, Siddaramaiah said many families are in distress, due to the ban on arrack. The government would support them financially through the D Devaraj Urs Backward Communities Development Corporation.
The chief minister directed Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya to take a suitable decision regarding the package to be given to such families and also measures to extend loans and skill development programme for youths of such families.
“People have not stopped consuming liquor due to ban on arrack. Several families were mainly dependent on brewing arrack and such families were driven to the streets due to the ban. The then deputy chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had claimed that the government helped women of backward communities by imposing a ban on arrack. The government’s decision was fatal to many families,” the chief minister said.
“In the past, a packet of arrack was available for Rs 12. People would buy two packets and would be left with some money. They are now forced to pay Rs 120 to buy liquor. I opposed the decision of the then chief minister J H Patel to impose a ban on cheap liquor,” Siddaramaiah recalled.
He said the government constituted a committee under his leadership and the committee recommended the government not to impose a ban on cheap liquor.
Anjaneya said if the government lifts the ban on arrack, some vested interests would create controversy and make an issue out of it.
Rajya Sabha member B K Hariprasad called upon the community members to get education to join the mainstream of society.
Idiga Ratna awardee R L Jalappa said the community members did not lose hope after the ban and worked hard to come up in life.
Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake commended the efforts of Narayana Guru, K N Guruswamy and K Venkataswamy for the community’s development. The portraits of Narayana Guru, K N Guruswamy and K Venkataswamy were unveiled on the occasion. Arya Idiga Sangha president J P Narayanaswamy submitted a memorandum to the chief minister, listing out various demands.