CM takes govt facilities to people’s doorstep

NT Correspondent

Chikkaballapur: The state administration is ending people’s plight of running from pillar to post to have their work done by bringing the government to their doorstep through a novel programme, said Chief Minister Basavarj Bommai on Saturday

Speaking after launching the ‘Revenue Documents at Your Doorstep’ programme organised by the Revenue Department at Gungirlahalli in Chikkaballapur district, he said it was a pity that people struggled to get even basic documents like caste certificate and RTC. Revenue Minister R Ashok formulated the novel programme to end the plight particularly of the poor.

Farmers of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts work hard. The districts are known for the production of silk, milk, fruits and vegetables. It is heartening that the novel programme of delivering Revenue documents at the doorsteps of the people is available in these districts, he said.

Bommai said the government can win the trust of people if it reaches out to them at their time of need, so it takes the service to their doors. Congress leaders have been talking big about welfare of the poor, Dalits and the backward communities for the last 75 years. They used the poor as a vote bank. “They indulged in self-aggrandisement in the name of the poor. If they had walked their talk, we would not have faced this situation of coming up with this programme of delivering Revenue documents at your doorstep,” he added.

The most significant work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is that he has created awareness among the people about their rights. Modi is the only prime Minister who set up systems to educate people about their rights and to get them. Earlier too governments promised to eradicate poverty. “They had the slogan Garibi Hatao. But why did they not make it a reality? They used power only for politicking. Their objective was power-centric. But we will deliver our services to the doors of the common man and get their blessings to serve them. The Revenue department is delivering various documents to 5 crore people at their doorsteps. Why did the previous governments not do this?” Bommai asked. 

The CM said his was a common man’s government. The Raitha Shakthi programme announced in the recent budget offers Rs 1,050 to farmers with land holdings up to 5 acres as an aid to purchase diesel and hire farm equipment. A grant of Rs 600 cr has been provided for the programme in the budget. Another Rs 300 cr has been provided to reintroduce the Yashasvini programme. Interest-free loans will be provided to 33 lakh farmers. The government is helping farmers brand their produce and to export them. The subsidy for horticulture crops has been extended.

“Ensuring fair prices for farmers’ toil and produce is our resolve. I have proved my commitment in this regard by announcing the Vidya Nidhi scholarship scheme for farmers’ children within three hours of taking the oath as the CM. Pension has been increased to 50 lakh families. Ours is a government with concern for the poor. PM Narendra Modi is paying Rs 6,300 per hectare for farmers engaged in dry-land farming. We have doubled the compensation for crop loss during the recent floods. I have allocated Rs 25,000 cr for irrigation and Rs 2,800 cr for Horticulture. Crop-loss compensation has been transferred to farmers’ accounts within one month”, Bommai added.