JOIN USDemand to revert to 30 kg of rice per family of four for BPL card holders under ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme, hike in pension under ‘Manaswini’ and ‘Mytri’ schemes, increase in financial aid given to students under ‘Vidya Siri’, and most importantly extension of ‘Ksheera Bhagya’ programme at schools for six days in a week.
These were prominent among several suggestions that came from beneficiaries of seven schemes launched by the Congress-led State government in the last two years.
Select beneficiaries from 30 districts in the State, who took part in an interaction with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at ‘Jana Mana’, a programme organised by the Information and Public Relations department, at Senate Bhavan, here, shared both savoury and unsavoury incidents from their life, after reaping the benefits of the schemes. However, students stole the show.
Saraswati, a student of MSc in Industrial Chemistry, Kuvempu University, Shivamogga, appealed to the chief minister to extend the aid to OBC students on the lines of SC, ST students, who get separate funds to buy books to prepare for competitive exams.
Sharat, a student from Bengaluru, exhorted for an increase in the financial aid given to college students from Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 3,000, in the wake of inflation. Bhuvan from Kodagu wanted the aid to be distributed on time, as they have been receiving it after completion of the course. It would be better to distribute the aid during the time of admission.
Extend Ksheera Bhagya
Aditi, a beneficiary of ‘Ksheera Bhagya’ from Udupi, appealed to the chief minister to extend the scheme of distributing milk once in three days to six days a week. Following the introduction of the scheme, there is an improvement in students’ health in particular and also improvement in attendance in general, said Aditi.
Netravathi from Shivamogga, a widow who could avail the benefit of loan waiver under ‘Runamuktalu’, said, the government should revert to 30 kg of rice per month for BPL card holders. She reasoned, when the quantity of rice given under ‘Anna Bhagya’ was more, her meagre income was sufficient to feed her family of three, including two daughters. Now, it is vice-versa, with five kg of rice including wheat being distributed under the scheme.
Hike sought
A woman from Bhadravati, who was orphaned following the death of her parents in an accident, explained her plight in eking out a living with a meagre pension of Rs 500 per month under ‘Manaswini’. She sought for a hike in the same.
A group of sex minorities, led by Syed Khaleel from Davangere, urged for increasing the pension under ‘Mytri’ scheme. The pension of Rs 500 per month is too meagre, in the wake of spiralling prices, Khaleel added.