Bengaluru: The state government has selected former minister C Veeranna for this year’s Maharshi Valmiki award, according to Minister for Social Welfare H Anjaneya.
Speaking with media persons here on Friday, Minister Anjaneya said the award would be presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha on Saturday. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh and a citation.
“The expert committee headed by Niranjan of Gulbarga has selected C Veeranna for the award this year. Veeranna has contributed a lot for the welfare of poor and needy people in the society. He is known for sincerity and simple life style. As a minister for small savings in Ramakrishna Hegde Cabinet, Veeranna has made Karnataka number one state in the country in promoting small savings among the public,” Minister Anjaneya said.
Nutritious food scheme for tribal people in Chikamagaluru
Minister Anjaneya said the state government has already implemented nutritious food scheme for tribal people in six districts such as Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, South Canara, North Canara, Kodagu and Udupi. “Now the state government has decided to extend this facility to tribal people in Chikmagaluru district. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will launch this scheme this month end for the benefit of tribal people in Chikmagaluru district. The social welfare department had engaged an agency to conduct a survey to identify the beneficiaries in Chikmagaluru district. Around 51,430 tribal people will be benefited from this scheme in Chikmagaluru district. It will cost the state exchequer Rs 62.77 crore,’’ the minister said.
Under this scheme, each family will be supplied with 15 kg rice, five kg of tur dal, five kg moong dal, four kg sugar, two liters edible oil, 45 eggs and 500 gm Nandini ghee. The state government had spend Rs 2,437 per month for each family under this scheme. The total cost would be Rs 6.77 crore. “Many tribal people have complained to me about the lack of nutritious food during my stay at Danakkihara hamlet on April 15, 2015. I had ordered the social welfare department officials to make arrangements to identify the beneficiaries and take measures to implement the scheme in Chikmagalur district,’’ the minister said.
He said the BJP government had spent Rs 7,712.61 crore in five years for the welfare of scheduled castes in the state but Congress government led by Siddaramaiah had spent Rs 11,378.64 crore in three years. “We have allocated Rs 5,566.36 crore for the development of scheduled castes in 2016-17,” he said.
No discrimination against dalits
Minister Anjaneya has appealed managements of all temples and mutts to ensure no discrimination against dalits while serving food. “I expect mutt chiefs and temple priests to treat all people equally without any discrimination. I appeal them not to have discrimination against dalits and lower castes,” the minister said.
