JOIN USKarnataka Budget fails to meet expectations of Kodavas
The expectations of the people of Kodagu in the state budget announced by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has not been fulfilled.
The coffee growers had expected a special package. In addition, an appeal was made for budgetary allocations for the Kodava hockey festival and the setting up of a sports university. The budget has not considered the demands of the people.
Police complex
An amount of Rs 8 crore has been announced for a police complex in the district. An appeal was made during Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s visit to the SP office in Madikeri, to release funds for the new SP office building, which has been sanctioned in the budget.
Tourism sector
Though Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for the tourism sector, it will be shared among the districts that are dependent on the tourism sector and Kodagu will also get its share.
With a budgetary allocation of Rs 25 crore for yellow leaf affected arecanut growers, the growers in Karike, Sampaje, Koinadu, Shanivarasanthe, Kodlipete and Kushalnagar will be benefited.
While referring to roads in Kodagu, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had promised to release pending Rs 40 crore from the Rs 100 crore announced in the past.
Animal corridors
The government has announced that they will purchase land for setting up corridors for the movement of animals to contain the man-animal conflict. There has been a rise in man-animal conflict in the district in recent years. The laying of the corridors will benefit the district.
Shanivarasanthe Gram Panchayat former president Bhuvaneshwari Harish said, “The budget has emphasised on women’s empowerment. Loans at a subsidised interest rate of 4% will benefit the entrepreneurs. The government has contributed to the progress of women.”
Somwarpet Taluk Coffee Growers’ Association president Mohan Bopanna said, “The budget is not farmer-friendly. It has not given any projects for Malnad and Kodagu. The budget has emphasised castes and communities. We had appealed to the chief minister to waive off the loans and interest on the loans borrowed by the coffee growers, which has not been taken into consideration in the budget.”