Bengaluru: The state government is contemplating to provide reservation for more than 50 per cent in education and employment in proportionate to population, according to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Speaking at a function organised to celebrate Valmiki Jayanthi at Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government would announce its decision after consulting with legal experts. “The state budget size is Rs 85,000 crore. The percentage of scheduled castes and tribes in the state is at 24.1 per cent. As per the population of SC and STs, the state government has allocated Rs 19,542 crore for the year 2016-17. The state government had spent Rs 11,600 crore for the welfare of SC and ST communities in the last three years. I want the SC and ST communities to utilise these funds aptly,’’ the chief minister said.
He said the state government has allocated 10 acres of land on the outskirts of Bengaluru for establishing a Valmiki Study and Research Centre. “The state government has taken measures to develop a park in memory of Maharshi Valmiki in front of Legislators’ Home. The statue of Maharshi Valmiki will be established at the park. The state government will develop Maharshi Valmiki centre at Rajanahalli of Harihar taluk in Davengere district at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore,’’ he said.
Earlier, the chief minister felicitated former minister C Veeranna with Valmiki award. Minister for Social Welfare H Anjaneya, Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad, Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and Congress MLC VS Ugrappa were present on the occasion.
