<p>State Planning Board Deputy Chairman C M Ibrahim said on Tuesday he had recommended reintroduction of lottery in Karnataka to fund a proposed healthcare scheme for poor and middle-class families.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ibrahim, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said the board wanted to ensure that even middle-class families were provided with healthcare up to Rs 5 lakh. <br /><br />A lottery ticket would be priced at Rs 10. “The estimated cost for the health scheme is Rs 500 crore a year. This could be raised by selling lottery tickets. The Mysore Sales International Limited has been asked to study the ways and means of implementing the lottery scheme,” he said. <br /><br />The proposed scheme, to be called “Anna Karunya Scheme”, would be on the lines of Kerala’s “Karunya Benevolent Fund.” <br /><br />When reporters asked whether it would be wise to bring back lottery, which had been banned in the interest of the people, Ibrahim said: “The intention is good. It is not proper to seek donation. This can’t be considered gambling. Anyhow, it is left to the government to take the final decision.”<br /><br />Interestingly, all forms of lottery were banned by Siddaramaiah when he was the deputy chief minister in the Dharam Singh government in 2004. <br /><br />The ban was imposed due to the menace of single-digit lottery, which had directly affected the labour class and lower-middle class, who were found spending their hard-earned money on lottery tickets. <br /><br />Ibrahim also said the board had recommended introduction of “Anna idli scheme” where the poor and middle class could get highly subsidised food through government canteens. <br /><br />This would be on the lines of Tamil Nadu’s subsidised food sold under the banner of “Amma canteens.” The canteens would sell “idli,” “chitranna,” ”puliyogare” and “curd rice” at Rs 5 per plate.<br /><br />Ibrahim said first the scheme would be introduced in Bengaluru and later extended to Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Kalaburgi. About Rs 50 crore would be required for the scheme. </p>
<p>State Planning Board Deputy Chairman C M Ibrahim said on Tuesday he had recommended reintroduction of lottery in Karnataka to fund a proposed healthcare scheme for poor and middle-class families.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ibrahim, a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said the board wanted to ensure that even middle-class families were provided with healthcare up to Rs 5 lakh. <br /><br />A lottery ticket would be priced at Rs 10. “The estimated cost for the health scheme is Rs 500 crore a year. This could be raised by selling lottery tickets. The Mysore Sales International Limited has been asked to study the ways and means of implementing the lottery scheme,” he said. <br /><br />The proposed scheme, to be called “Anna Karunya Scheme”, would be on the lines of Kerala’s “Karunya Benevolent Fund.” <br /><br />When reporters asked whether it would be wise to bring back lottery, which had been banned in the interest of the people, Ibrahim said: “The intention is good. It is not proper to seek donation. This can’t be considered gambling. Anyhow, it is left to the government to take the final decision.”<br /><br />Interestingly, all forms of lottery were banned by Siddaramaiah when he was the deputy chief minister in the Dharam Singh government in 2004. <br /><br />The ban was imposed due to the menace of single-digit lottery, which had directly affected the labour class and lower-middle class, who were found spending their hard-earned money on lottery tickets. <br /><br />Ibrahim also said the board had recommended introduction of “Anna idli scheme” where the poor and middle class could get highly subsidised food through government canteens. <br /><br />This would be on the lines of Tamil Nadu’s subsidised food sold under the banner of “Amma canteens.” The canteens would sell “idli,” “chitranna,” ”puliyogare” and “curd rice” at Rs 5 per plate.<br /><br />Ibrahim said first the scheme would be introduced in Bengaluru and later extended to Mysuru, Hubballi, Mangaluru and Kalaburgi. About Rs 50 crore would be required for the scheme. </p>
