Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who holds the finance portfolio, rolled out Karnataka budget for 2018-19 today, just months before the state goes to polls. A total budget of Rs 2,09,181 crore was presented - a jump of 12.12 per cent from the last year's budget. A Rs 2,500 crore package for Bengaluru was rolled out by the minister for the "comprehensive development of Bengaluru". Indian-made liquor (IML) would cost more from April 1 as Mr Siddaramaiah announced 8 per cent increase in additional excise duty. Thrust has been given to digital Karnataka, healthcare, education, robust rail network, skill training, logistics network among others. Schemes for universal health coverage, free LPG gas connections and dry land farmers have also been rolled out. Mr Siddaramaiah described his government to be "farmer-friendly" and said, "Today, there is no situation in the state where any person goes to bed with hunger." This was Mr Siddaramaiah's 13th state budget presentation and sixth in a row.
1. Salary revision for 5.93 lakh state government employees and 5.73 lakh pensioners.
2. A farm loan waiver scheme of up to Rs 1 lakh from cooperative banks after the death of the farmer.
3. A new scheme called 'Raitha Belaku' to give direct income assistance to dry land farmers.
5. Arogya Karnataka Yojana' (universal health coverage) to be made available to primary, and specific secondary and tertiary treatments for all.
8. Students across Karnataka to get free bus passes. Karnataka Sports University to be set up under PPP model. Additional 1000-bed ward announced for Bangalore Medical College.
(With Inputs From PTI)
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