Siddarth Sethia
Rs.25,000 crore special grants provided to region over 12 years;72,000 posts being filled, says Karnataka Chief Minister
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar on Thursday said the Congress government was committed to the welfare and comprehensive development of Kalyana Karnataka,stressing that the region’s progress would be measured not merely by the construction of buildings and infrastructure but by the happiness and well-being of the last person in society.
In a message marking the 79th Kalyana Karnataka Liberation Day and Kalyana Karnataka Utsav,the Chief Minister extended his greetings to the people and recalled the region’s historical legacy of social reform, equality,humanity and coexistence.
“Kalyana Karnataka is the sacred land of Basavanna’s struggle and the message of equality, humanity and peaceful coexistence,”he said,recalling the social revolution led by Basavanna in the 12th century.
Congress contribution to the region Shivakumar said the development of Kalyana Karnataka was being driven by the efforts of Congress leaders,including Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister,Manmohan Singh,AICC President, Mallikarjun Kharge,former Chief Minister,Dharam Singh and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
He said the region had secured liberation through the struggle of the Congress,noting that while India had attained independence,the Nizam’s rule had continued in Kalyana Karnataka.He also recalled the role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru in safeguarding the region.
The Chief Minister said the Hyderabad-Karnataka Development Board was established in 1990 based on the report of Dharam Singh,while the special constitutional status under Article 371J was secured through the contributions of Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh and Mallikarjun Kharge.
“Article 371J was intended to ensure that at least one person in every household gets a government job,every village has a doctor and every village has at least five engineers,”he said,describing these as the true aspirations behind the provision.
Rs.25,000 crore special grants and employment:
Shivakumar said Kalyana Karnataka had received approximately Rs.25,000 crore in special grants over the past 12 years, of which Rs.14,000 crore had already been spent.
He said 41,103 works had been taken up, with 32,985 completed and 8,118 at various stages of progress.
“Through Article 371J,the youth of this region are building their lives,” he said, adding that 79,383 young people had been provided employment so far.
The government was currently undertaking recruitment
for 72,000 posts,of which 32,000 would be made available to people from the region,he said.
The Congress government had allocated Rs.5,000 crore annually for the development of Kalyana Karnataka, he added.
Focus on healthcare and education:
The Chief Minister said Kalyana Karnataka was emerging as a healthcare hub,with super-speciality hospitals being established in Yadgir,Koppal and Bidar.
He said the Indira Gandhi Mother and Child Hospital, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and Jayadeva Hospital were being strengthened to serve more people.
A total of Rs.423 crore was being spent on these hospitals,he said,adding that the initiatives would reduce the need for people from the region to travel to Bengaluru and Hyderabad for treatment.
The government had allocated Rs.1,797 crore to the health sector and ₹200 crore for small-scale industries, he said.
Under Article 371J,more than 10,000 students had received admission opportunities in medical education and over 31,000 in engineering,he added.
The government had set a target of constructing 350 KPS schools in the region,he said.
Major infrastructure and irrigation initiatives
Shivakumar said a special Cabinet meeting held in Kalaburagi had approved major projects worth Rs.11,770 crore.
He said the government had formulated the Kalyana Patha scheme for road development in the region.
A sum of Rs.1,000 crore had been allocated for the development of 1,150 km of rural roads across 38 Assembly constituencies, with Rs.120 crore earmarked for each constituency.
The government had also decided to construct a balancing reservoir for the Tungabhadra Dam at Navali in Koppal,he said.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Union Jal Shakti Minister,C.R.Patil,bringing together the Chief Ministers of Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on a common platform,he added.
The government was allocating Rs.7,200 crore for drinking water projects in Kalyana Karnataka, Shivakumar said.
Start-ups and youth development:
Shivakumar said more than 120 start-ups had been established in Kalaburagi, with a target of taking the number beyond 500 by 2030.
He said the government was establishing 10,000 Bharat Jodo youth organisations to nurture leadership qualities among young people and guide them towards constructive activities.
Opportunities were being created for youth to showcase their talent in sports, art and music,he added.
Welfare guarantees and public service:
The Chief Minister said the Congress government’s welfare guarantees were benefiting people across the region.He said:
Under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme,25.74 lakh women heads of households had received financial assistance.
Through Gruha Jyothi,23 lakh households had received free electricity benefits.
A total of ₹382 crore had been provided to unemployed young men and women.
Women had made 93.06 crore free bus journeys under the Shakti scheme, at a cost of ₹3,452.90 crore.
“These are the people-centric guarantees and development-oriented guarantees of the Congress,”he said.
Shivakumar said the government was bringing public services to people’s doorsteps through the Praja Seva Department.
He said ministers and legislators,including himself,were conducting Praja Seva Abhiyan programmes at district, taluk and hobli levels on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month to address public grievances.
“Public service is service to God.That is why we have established the Praja Seva Department,”he said.
Railways and social development:
The Chief Minister recalled Mallikarjun Kharge’s contribution to the region’s development,including the establishment of a major ESI hospital and the sanctioning of 27 new railway services.
He said the Gulbarga–Wadi and Bidar–Gulbarga railway lines were among the projects associated with Kharge’s efforts.
The Congress had also worked for the inclusion of the Banjara community in the Scheduled Tribes list,he said, adding that the move had strengthened the community’s prospects.
Appeal for continued support:
Shivakumar said Bengaluru was the crown of Karnataka, while Kalyana Karnataka was the state’s powerhouse.
“Development is flowing through Kalyana Karnataka like the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers,”he said.
He said the Congress government had worked for the welfare of the region and would continue to prioritise its development.
“Kalyana Karnataka’s welfare is our priority,”he said.
Calling for a strong and prosperous Karnataka, Shivakumar appealed to the people to continue supporting the Congress in the 2028 Assembly elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
“New Karnataka,strong Karnataka is our resolve. We stand with you, and you stand with us,”he said.
Major Announcements:
Kalyana Karnataka Economy Mission (KKEM):The government will establish the Kalyana Karnataka Economy Mission as a Section 8 company to accelerate industrial growth and investment in the region.The mission will help attract large-scale investments and create new economic opportunities.
Bio Economy Mission:The government will establish a Bio Economy Mission to increase farmers’ incomes through the processing and value addition of agricultural produce.The mission will focus on key regional products, including tur dal,Kamalapur bananas,raisins and millets.
Special Campaign Against Anaemia:A special two-year campaign will be launched to reduce the prevalence of anaemia in the region through screening, prevention and treatment.Pregnant women,adolescents and lactating mothers will receive special attention.
Kalaburagi City Infrastructure:A flyover will be constructed on the ring road at Sedam Road to ease traffic movement in the rapidly growing city of Kalaburagi.A new Peripheral Ring Road is also planned, with its Detailed Project Report (DPR) under preparation. In addition, a new lake and recreational park will be developed at a cost of Rs.30 crore as a major green and public leisure space for the city.
50,000 Housing Sites for Landless Families:As part of the government’s commitment to inclusive development, 50,000 residential sites will be developed in Kalaburagi district for landless families.
IT Park and KRIYA:An IT Park will be developed across 30 acres in Kalaburagi to expand the growth of the IT and innovation sectors beyond Bengaluru.KRIYA — Kalaburagi Research,Innovation and Youth Accelerator — will also be established to promote innovation, start-ups and young entrepreneurs.
AI-Based CCTV Network:AI-powered CCTV systems will be installed in Kalaburagi city and taluk headquarters to strengthen public safety,crime prevention and traffic management.The network will also be used to monitor civic services provided by urban local bodies, including waste management.
Tourism and Heritage Development:A pilgrimage circuit connecting Kalaburagi Fort,Sharanabasaveshwara Temple,Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah,Buddha Vihara, Malkhed,Sannati and Ganagapur will be developed. Heritage sites at Malkhed, Nagavi,Kalagi and Sannati are also being redeveloped through KKRDB funding.
Ganagapur will be developed in the first phase at a cost of ₹50 crore.A Vachana Mantapa will be established in Kalaburagi to take the teachings of Basavanna and the Vachana tradition to the younger generation.
Sports Infrastructure:Chandrashekar Patil Stadium will be comprehensively redeveloped with modern sports infrastructure over the next two years.The government will enter into an agreement with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to develop cricket facilities benefiting the entire Kalyana Karnataka region.
A “SPORTS CITY” will be established at Hadgil Haruti village in Kalaburagi taluk to promote sporting excellence, with international-standard indoor and outdoor facilities for various sports.
Koti Vruksha Abhiyan (One Crore Trees Campaign): A plantation campaign will be undertaken across Kalyana Karnataka over the next two years to increase green cover and strengthen resilience against climate change. The initiative aims to plant and nurture one crore saplings.
