Siddaramaiah said the government had made efforts to continue the Congress’ guarantee schemes and was working on new programmes for the people.
“In three months, Shivakumar has made efforts to continue with the guarantees. The government is working to provide many new ideas and programmes to the people. I feel that this government is on the right path,” the former CM said after inaugurating the 100-day celebrations.
Shivakumar, in his address, acknowledged Siddaramaiah’s welfare initiatives and said the Congress government had spent Rs 1.45 lakh crore on the guarantee schemes over the past three years. He also pledged to strengthen the programmes.
The CWC member said the government should continue implementing the guarantees ignoring criticism from the Opposition, arguing that the schemes were aimed at reducing inequality.
“This government still has more than a year and a half left of its term. I hope that in the remaining period, the government works to fulfil all the promises and assurances it has given to the people,” he said.
Siddaramaiah recalled that when the Congress government announced its five guarantee schemes, Opposition parties had warned that their implementation would leave little money for development and strain the state’s finances. “Even the Prime Minister initially said that it was not possible to implement the guarantee schemes.”He said the Congress government had implemented all five guarantees within the first year of coming to power, despite the annual cost of about Rs 52,000 crore.
“Shivakumar and I, as Dy CM and CM, ran the guarantee schemes for more than three years. The government itself bore Rs 52,000 crore and implemented the programmes,” he said.
Siddaramaiah also said the government had continued to allocate funds for development alongside the welfare schemes.
He welcomed Shivakumar’s new initiative to establish a Praja Seva (citizen services) department, but cautioned the government against allowing it to become another layer of bureaucracy.
