Binish Thomas (Sub-Editor)
1
.On this important occasion of Kalyana Karnataka Amrut Mahotsav and the 10th anniversary of giving special status to Kalyana Karnataka under Article 371(J), I extend heartfelt greetings to everyone.
2. I feel honoured to hoist the national flag on this special day. It strengthens our commitment to the development of this region.
3. This year,we had good rainfall in this region, and our farmers are happy.Nature has blessed us.
4. Though India gained independence in 1947,the districts of Bidar,Kalaburagi,and Raichur,under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad,experienced freedom only a year later.
5. Kalyana Karnataka joined India due to the sacrifices of many freedom fighters,the vision of Jawaharlal Nehru, and the strength of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.I pay respect to all the great people who fought for the liberation of Kalyana Karnataka.
6.This land has made significant contributions to Kannada language,literature,culture, art,and religion.The Sharana movement,led by Basavanna,laid a strong foundation for social change and democratic governance.Our government follows Basavanna’s teachings and has declared him a global leader.
7. Kalyana Karnataka is the land of Amoghavarsha Nrupatunga, who gave us the first Kannada literary work, “Kavirajamarga.This region is also known for promoting harmony among different religions.
8. When other parts of the country struggled with caste and gender inequality,Kalyana Karnataka showed the way for equality and social justice.
9. The Sharana movement,which began in Basavakalyan, united people from different regions who believed in equality. Even today,it inspires those who stand for equal rights.
10.Leaders like Raja Venkatappa Naik of Surapura,who fought against the British,will always be remembered in history.Kalyana Karnataka played a significant role in the freedom struggle.
11.Two regions that initially refused to join India were Mysuru and Hyderabad.The movements such as Mysore chalo and Hyderabad liberation movement were the manifestation of people’s aspiration from democratic rule.
Mysore rulers accepted people’s aspirations and agreed to join Union of India.But Kalyana Karnataka region was liberated after hudge sacrifices.
12.Kalyana Karnataka has fought four important battles: the Indian freedom struggle, the liberation from Nizam’s rule,the unification of Kannada-speaking regions, and the fight for Article 371(J) to grant special status.We must never forget these struggles.
13.Under British and Nizam rule,this region was neglected, and Kannada was sidelined in favor of languages like Marathi,Telugu,Urdu,and English.
14.In 1990,the Hyderabad-Karnataka Development Board was established to address the region’s backwardness, and later, after much struggle,Article 371(J) was added to the Constitution,giving the region special status.
15.This was made possible by the efforts of leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and the late N.Dharam Singh.
16.Despite challenges, Mallikarjun Kharge’s continued efforts led to the UPA government passing Article 371(J) in 2012,which came into effect in 2013.
17.With the implementation of Article 371(J), the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board was set up, and the region began seeing progress.
18.Our government is committed to the ideals of Buddha,Basava,and Ambedkar.We have launched the “Five Guarantee”schemes,fulfilling our election promises.
19.Under the”Shakti”scheme,women enjoy free travel, benefiting 50-60 lakh women daily.By August 2024,41.45 crore trips were made by women in this region.
20.Through the “Anna Bhagya” scheme, each family member receives a financial benefit of Rs.170 per kilogram of rice. Rs 1,551 crore has been transferred to families in this region.
21.The “Gruha Jyoti” scheme provides free electricity up to 200 units to over.
21.88 lakh households in the region,with Rs.1,104 crore in subsidies.
22.Under the”Gruha Lakshmi”scheme,Rs.2,000 is given to the woman head of the family,benefiting 24.53 lakh women in the region.
23.The “Yuva Nidhi” scheme provides a monthly stipend to unemployed youth. So far, Rs.28.39 crore has been distributed to eligible youth.
24.These “Panch Guarantee”schemes aim to improve the economic stability of every family, providing annual benefits of Rs.48,000 to Rs.60,000.
25.In the 2024-25 budget,we allocated Rs.5,000 crore to the Kalyana Karnataka Development Board.
26.This amount has been approved for development projects in the region,and we expect a new phase of progress.
27.A committee led by Professor Govind Rao has been formed to study the economic and social changes in the region and suggest ways to reduce inequalities.
28.A sub-committee,headed by the Kalaburagi district minister,has been set up to oversee the implementation of orders under Article 371(J).
29.Our government is committed to the upliftment of backward communities, and Rs.39,121 crore has been allocated for the development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
30.The Kalyana Karnataka Development Board has earmarked Rs.1,250 crore for education,and “Akshar Avishkar”initiative has been strengthened further. KKRDB has announced 2023-24 and 2024-25 as years of education.
This year 1008 pre-schools have been started and over 36,000 students have enrolled in schools this year.We have also hired new guest teachers to support this initiative.
31.We have started teaching in English medium along with Kannada in 872 government primary schools in this region.
To improve skills,computer learning for 9th-grade students has begun this year in 306 high schools. We are providing a special study book called “Kalikasare”to help improve the quality of education, so children here can stand tall like others.
32.As announced in this year’s budget, Rs.250 crore has been set aside for higher education and university-related works,including establishing unit colleges in district and taluk centers where needed.
33.In collaboration with KKRDB and the Department of Backward Classes Welfare, Rs.180 crore has been allocated in 2024-25 for building pre-matric and post-matric hostels.
34.With the partnership of KKRDB and the Department of Minority Welfare,Rs.180 crore will be spent on constructing Maulana Azad Model Schools,Morarji Desai Residential Schools for minorities,and pre-matric and post-matric hostels.
35.For the development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,KKRDB and the Department of Social Welfare are investing Rs.200 crore to build Morarji Desai Residential Schools and pre-matric and post-matric hostels.
36.The NICE Academy (Nagavi Institute of Competitive Exams) has already been built in Kalaburagi.Soon, pre-exam training will begin for children in this area. About 2,000 candidates will receive training every year for competitive exams like IAS,KAS,Banking, and state government recruitments.
37.The government recently approved a training center in Kalaburagi to provide pre-selection training, guidance, and preparation for candidates from backward classes aspiring to join the Indian Army and other uniformed services.
38.To promote the growth of science and technology among students and the public,the ongoing work on the Science Center in Chittapur,Kalaburagi district,will be completed this year.New science centers/planetariums will also be set up in Raichur and Yadgir.
39.Malnutrition is a major issue among women and children in the Kalyana Karnataka districts.Since healthy people are the wealth of a nation,we have developed a health innovation program to improve health in this area. This year, Rs.220 crore in special funding will be provided for proper implementation, including upgrading health centers and hospitals and adding 50 new ambulances.
40.With the full financial support of KKRDB, the construction of the branch of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Kalaburagi with 371-bed capacity is progressing rapidly. Approval has already been given for ₹262 crore to complete the final phase, and it will be inaugurated soon.
41.The state cabinet has approved ₹221 crore to establish a 150-bed children’s health unit in Kalaburagi with technical support from the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health. Additionally, a ₹90 crore maternity and children’s hospital and a ₹72 crore 150-bed cancer hospital are being built on the premises of GIMS Hospital. ₹75 crore has been allocated by KKRDB for these hospitals this year.
42.During our previous government term, we set up the GIMS Medical College,Jayadeva Hospital,and a trauma center in Kalaburagi City for public service.
The ₹163 crore super-specialty hospital will soon be open to the public, along with a ₹30 crore 50-bed ICU and a ₹15.6 crore 30-bed burn unit.
43.In line with the vision of Mr.Mallikarjun Kharge, we are moving towards making Kalaburagi a regional health hub, to provide high-quality healthcare locally instead of people traveling to distant cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, or Hyderabad.
44. The KKRDB has provided ₹90 crore to Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) for the purchase of 222 new buses this year. Since 2023-24, a total of 964 buses have been bought to facilitate easier travel for the people here.
45.A total of 44 multi-village drinking water supply schemes worth ₹8,290 crore are being implemented in 2,283 villages across the Kalyana Karnataka districts.
46.As part of the 2024-25 budget, 400 community toilets are being built in the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka, with ₹100 crore being spent, allocating ₹25 lakh for each unit.
47.Out of 1,100 “Arivu Kendra” (awareness centers) in the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka, 1,021 have been upgraded to digital libraries. Around 12.33 lakh children are enrolled in these centers, supporting the intellectual growth of rural students.
48.Along with providing quality education, we have developed the “Udyoga Aavishkaara” scheme to create job opportunities. About 25,000 children are receiving skill training under this scheme, with ₹10 crore being spent through C-DAC and the “Industry Linkage Cell.”
49.To provide employment-based skills, multi-skill development centers are being established in Kalaburagi and Talakal in Koppal, with ₹60 crore reserved for each center.
50.An advanced incubation and skill center is being started in Kalaburagi by the IT and BT departments, which will nurture skilled professionals and entrepreneurs to meet the growing demand in industries. Through K-Tech, it will support innovation and transform Kalaburagi into a center of excellence and opportunity.
51.The proposed new flat-floor factory in Kalaburagi will be a significant step for the state’s electronics industry, providing ready-to-use factory spaces for entrepreneurs. This will create jobs and mark the beginning of electronics manufacturing in Kalyana Karnataka.
52.In collaboration with the central government, a mega textile park is being set up on 1,000 acres near Nadi Sinnoor-Honnakiranagi in PPP mode. ₹50 crore has been allocated for infrastructure, which will directly create 1 lakh jobs and 2 lakh indirect jobs.
53.Dedicated economic corridors provide the infrastructure needed for economic growth. Hence, we are taking steps to develop an economic corridor between Bidar and Bengaluru to boost the economic development of Kalyana Karnataka.
54.The Kalaburagi Government (Men’s) ITI Training Institute is being revitalized at a cost of ₹20 crore.
55.The state government is planning to develop Kalaburagi City into a smart city with an estimated investment of ₹1,685 crore, which will improve the quality of life for its residents and attract investment in backward districts.
56.Under the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana 2.0, ₹200 crore each is being provided for basic infrastructure development in Kalaburagi and Ballari municipal corporations.
57.A scheme called “Kalyana Patha” has been developed to improve road connectivity and rural development in the region. Under this, the state government will build 1,150 km of roads in rural assembly constituencies at a cost of ₹1,000 crore.
58.Our government is ready to provide all necessary support to establish an AIIMS institute in Raichur. We urge the central government to take immediate steps to start AIIMS here.
59.We are constructing a sewerage system in Shahapur at a cost of ₹292 crore. Additionally, a ₹23 crore drinking water project is being implemented in Sindhanur.
60.For 2024-25, we aim to generate 4.85 crore person-days of work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the seven districts of this region. So far, 3.43 crore person-days have been generated, providing employment to 13.69 lakh people.
61.Last year, on this very day, we launched “Kusina Mane” childcare centers to care for the children of female workers going to NREGA jobs in rural areas. As a result, these centers have opened in 976 villages, leading to an increase in female workers.
62.Already, waste management units have been set up in four districts, and new ones will be established in Raichur and Ballari this year.
63.To develop tourism in the famous Anjanadri Hill and surrounding areas of Koppal district, ₹100 crores will be provided.
64.In Ballari,we will organize unorganized jeans industries and develop a Jeans Apparel Park and Common Facility Center to upgrade them to world-class standards.
65.To build “Taluk Administrative Buildings” (Mini Vidhana Soudha) in 18 new taluks in Kalyana Karnataka’s 7 districts, ₹130 crores is being spent in partnership with the Revenue Department and the Board.
66.For eco-tourism and conservation programs in Honnakere Reserve Forest and other biodiversity areas of Bidar, ₹15 crores are being granted by KKRDB. There’s a direct link between peace, prosperity, greenery, and development. As trees grow and cool the environment, the development process speeds up, so we are implementing afforestation and groundwater recharge programs.
67.We are making sincere efforts to implement irrigation projects in the Godavari and other river basins.
68.A bridge-cum-barrage will be built across the Tungabhadra River near Chikkalparvi in Manvi taluk, Raichur district, at a cost of ₹397 crores, as recently approved by the Cabinet.
69.The government has approved the Yaddalli-Kachuru lift irrigation project in Sedam taluk, Kalaburagi district, at a cost of ₹140 crores, and work will begin soon.
70.The first Center of Excellence focused on CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) machines will be established at KGTTI in Kalaburagi at a cost of ₹16 crores.
71.A new textile park will be launched in Raichur through a public-private partnership.
72.Kalyana Karnataka is a land of saints, like Tintini Monappa, Kodekal Basavanna, Bande Nawaz, and Sharan Basaveshwar, who preached harmony. They inspired Kuvempu’s state anthem, envisioning peace for all. These values are also the essence of our Constitution, which we must protect.
73.To introduce the world to the teachings of Basavanna and other saints, a Vachana Museum/Mantapa will be established in Kalaburagi, with the land already identified. Construction will begin soon.
74.In Basava Kalyan, our government previously designed and laid the foundation for Anubhava Mantapa. We have now allocated the necessary funds, and it will be completed and inaugurated by the end of next year.
75.Under the Central Government’s PRASAD scheme, a proposal has been submitted to comprehensively develop the famous Deval Ganagapur site in Kalaburagi district. If approved, the state will develop it with tourism and other department funds.
76.For the development of Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib Gurudwara in Bidar, ₹1 crore will be granted. The ancient water supply system in Bidar, famous as the “Karez,” will be restored with technical assistance from expert organizations.
77.The cooperative sector plays a key role in agricultural product processing, market connectivity, and value addition. Accordingly, cold storage facilities will be built in Koppal, Ballari, and five other places for ₹50 crores, and in Raichur for ₹40 crores.
78.A well-equipped dry chilli market will be established in Raichur for an estimated cost of ₹25 crores.
79.The Ballari market will be transformed into a zero-waste vegetable market by establishing a bio-energy plant through public-private partnerships.
80.It’s been 10 years since the 371J Constitutional Amendment was implemented in 2013 to aid backward Kalyana Karnataka.
81.From 2013-14 to 2024-25, the government has allocated ₹19,778 crores to the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB), of which ₹13,229 crores have been released, and ₹11,174 crores have been spent. So far, 35,885 projects have been taken up, and 27,264 have been completed, with 8,621 projects in progress. These numbers speak for the development of this region.
82.Since the law was enacted, 1,09,416 jobs have been identified for direct recruitment in various departments in this region, with 79,985 filled. Of 38,705 promotional posts, 29,793 have been promoted. The remaining vacancies will be filled in phases.
83.In higher, technical, and medical education institutions in the Kalyana Karnataka region, 70% of seats and 8% of seats in the rest of the state are reserved for local candidates. As a result, from 2014-15 to 2023-24, 7,757 candidates have been admitted to medical courses, and 25,683 have joined engineering courses, among others like dental, homeopathy, agriculture, and pharmacy, benefiting thousands of students.
84.To eradicate illiteracy and improve literacy in Kalyana Karnataka, ₹4,352 crores have been spent from 2013-14 to 2023-24 on education infrastructure, quality improvement, and building hostels from primary school to university.
85.Declaring 2023-24 as the “Year of Basic Education,” ₹653 crores have been allocated for the Akshara Abhiyan program. This fund is used for repairing and constructing schools, building additional classrooms, providing furniture, electrification, and constructing libraries.
86.To strengthen health services in Kalyana Karnataka, ₹916 crores have been allocated for building health centers, taluk and district hospitals, and supplying medical equipment from 2013-14 to 2023-24.
87.Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, ₹8,290 crores are being spent on single and multi-village drinking water schemes in Kalyana Karnataka’s 7 districts. Already, 81.3% progress has been made, with 1.5 lakh individual toilets newly built. Additionally, solid waste management plants are being built for ₹17.36 crores, and ₹618 crores are allocated to develop electricity infrastructure. KPCL is also building power distribution centers at a cost of ₹945 crores.
88.The previous government led the state into decline with mismanagement and corruption.They took up projects worth crores without allocating funds in the budget. Moreover, the central government has denied us our rightful share. Despite all these challenges, our government has implemented guarantee schemes effectively and is providing ₹5,000 crores annually to Kalyana Karnataka. We prioritize road, irrigation, health, and education development. Furthermore, we have implemented the 7th Pay Commission for government employees.
89.This evening, after nearly a decade since the cabinet meeting on 28th November 2014, we are holding another ambitious meeting in Kalaburagi. I am happy to inform you that we are making significant decisions to provide essential infrastructure like education, health, transportation, irrigation, and tourism for this region.
90.On the occasion of the Kalyana Karnataka Day celebration and the 10th anniversary of the 371J Act, I once again wish you all the best. Without th
