Hassan: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the Central government for its failure to disburse drought relief to the state. He emphasized that it is the responsibility of the Centre to review the state’s proposal and allocate the necessary funds.
In discussions with reporters prior to his visit to the Hasanamba temple, the CM stressed the importance of a collaborative relationship between the central government and state governments within a federal system. Siddaramaiah noted that states contribute tax revenue to the Centre on behalf of their citizens, making it the Centre’s obligation to offer timely assistance.
The central government is mandated to provide input subsidies to states through the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) following established guidelines. Despite a central team’s visit and assessment, the Centre has not yet released any relief funds, even though the state government has submitted a proposal for Rs 17,901 crore.
Addressing the comments made by former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who questioned the state government’s responsibility in addressing the drought situation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah noted that as the JD(S) is a part of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance), HD Kumaraswamy has the means to exert influence on the central government in this matter.
In a review meeting, the Chief Minister directed senior officials, such as deputy commissioners, zilla panchayats, CEOs, tahsildars, and executive officers in their respective districts, to ensure the effective implementation of new initiatives and programs, including Grihajyothi and Bhagyalakshmi, with a 100% success rate.
