'Sir, give badam-flavoured milk to schoolkids'

Siddaramaiah preferred to listen than do talking

 From imposing prohibition to pista and badam-flavoured milk for schoochildren under Ksheera Bhagya and to jobs for transgenders, suggestions poured in from select beneficiaries from across the state during Jana Mana, an interactive programme to celebrate the completion of 3 years of the Congress government in office, in the city on Friday.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah earned appreciation for his welfare schemes from the beneficiaries.

Siddaramaiah interacted with beneficiaries of the government’s welfare schemes. The interactions were held in 10 batches with the beneficiaries from three districts pooled into each batch.

Anna Bhagya (providing free foodgrains to BPL families) and Ksheera Bhagya were the most talked about schemes during the four-hour event held at Babu Rajendra Prasad Convention Centre at GKVK campus in Bengaluru.

Arogya Bhagya (cashless medical treatment for the poor in hospitals) and Shuddha Neeru (clean drinking water) scheme hardly got a mention. Gangadhara of Chitradurga wanted the chief minister to introduce total prohibition in the state. “Providing foodgrains free of cost will not eradicate poverty but prohibition will,” he said pointing out that most of the poor spend their hard-earned money on alcohol.

Another student Rakshita said Vidyasiri scheme of providing Rs 1,500 per month for students for their studies had helped many like her.

“Due to lack of money, many girl students used to quit education and their parents would forcibly marry them of without checking the antecedents of  the groom,” she said.

Chandini, a transgender from Kalaburagi said Mythri scheme of providing a pension of Rs 500 per month was not sufficient. “We need education and jobs,” Chandini said. The beneficiaries utilised the occasion to take selfies with the chief minister. At times there was a scramble for the mike. Some made lengthy speeches and the mike had to literally snatched from them. A few others had to be dragged away from the stage to make way for others. Siddaramaiah chose to listen and do less talking.

Brahmins too need govt scholarships

Harshit, a 7th standard student from Dharwad, wanted pista and badam in the milk provided to him in school. “It will provide us more energy”, he said. He went to add that he is from the Brahmin community and found it difficult to get government scholarships. “There are poor among Brahmins too. They also need scholarships,” he said.

Harshit said it was the rich who could buy leaked question paper and the government should focus more on the poor.