Emphasising on the role of people in development, Minister of State for Municipalities and Local Bodies and Public Enterprises and Bidar in-charge Eshwar Khandre has urged people to join hands with the government in taking up development initiatives. He was addressing the Rajyotsava Day function at the Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday.
“The government has taken up various steps to encourage literary and cultural activities in the State. The Department of Kannada and Culture has been provided with ₹ 482 crore for the purpose. The Kannada Development Authority is empowered to protect and develop Kannada language. However, the people should join hands with the government in these activities,” he said.
Referring to issues that people living in villages and towns on the State’s borders were facing, Mr. Khandre said that the government had allocated ₹ 50 crore to the Karnataka State Border Area Development Authority exclusively for addressing these problems. “Besides other issues, the development of basic infrastructure in the border area is being taken up on priority,” he said.
Thanking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his concern and commitment to the development of Hyderabad Karnataka region, Mr. Khandre said that the increase in special grant to ₹ 1,500 crore in the budget had helped the authorities in taking up more development projects. “The State government has filled 22,000 vacant posts in the region. Efforts are on to fill the remaining posts,” he said.
Rahim Khan, Chairman of the Karnataka State Warehousing Corporation, Zilla Panchayat president Bharatabai Sherikar, Lok Sabha member Bhagwant Khuba, legislators Ashok Kheni and Vijay Singh and others were present.
Colourful cultural performances delighted the gathering.