LIVE: Karnataka Budget 2024-25 – Siddaramaiah presents his 15th state budget

Team Udayavani, Feb 16, 2024, 10:23 AM IST

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah arrived at Vidhana Soudha and began presenting his record 15th budget for the state.

Here are the important budget updates:

Smartphones, gratuity for Anganawadi workers: Rs 200 crores for constructing 1,000 new Anganwadis
All Anganwadi workers and supervisors are to be provided with smartphones at a cost of ₹90 crore. Gratuity will also be provided to them.
Rs 27,000 crore has been allotted for the establishment of a 73-km long Bengaluru Business Corridor (Peripheral Ring Road).
Steps for gig workers’ welfare: Government to introduce Platform-Based Gig Workers Fund and Welfare Fee Bill to provide livelihood security to Gig Workers. the legislation will have provision for a cess on online transactions, which will be utilised for gig workers’ welfare.
Empowering our farmers by guaranteeing inputs, price and market.#NammaBudget2024 pic.twitter.com/gJ1bHhHFr1

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) February 16, 2024
Cancer care: Each district will get Day-Care Chemotherapy Centres, costing ₹20 crore in total. 20 district hospitals will receive Digital Mammography machines for early breast and cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Health infrastructure: Taluka hospitals with 100 beds will be built in Anekal, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Shringeri, Khanapura, Shirahatti, and Yelandur talukas, costing ₹280 crore.
Rs 150 crore will go towards the Mother and Child Hospital and other infrastructure at K.C. General Hospital in Bengaluru.
46 new Primary Health Centres will be established by KKRDB, costing Rs 221 crore. Additionally, Rs 130 crore will be provided for constructing 199 health and wellness centres this year.
COVID-19 management probe: An Inquiry Commission will investigate serious allegations in the 2021 Public Accounts Committee Report regarding COVID-19 pandemic management.
Education-related announcements: The CM says the government will focus on better infrastructure and education quality in public schools. To prepare kids for global competition:Karnataka Public Schools will be established, offering education from pre-primary to pre-university.
Marusinchana Programme will help 6th and 7th graders improve learning, at an outlay of Rs. 10 crore.
Rs. 50 crore will go to Science and Computer Labs and internet in high-enrollment Government High Schools for two years.
2,000 Government Primary schools will be made bilingual (Kannada and English).
Women & child welfare have been allotted Rs 86,423 crore, Rs 54,617 crore respectively.
Processed and value-added millets will be made available at affordable prices under new programme ‘Namma Millet’: CM
BJP MLAs hold protest at Vidhan Soudha over the Karnataka budget 2024. BJP MLAs walked out of the state Assembly during the budget presentation.

Bengaluru | BJP MLAs hold protest at Vidhan Soudha over the Karnataka budget 2024. BJP MLAs walked out of the state Assembly during the budget presentation. pic.twitter.com/Zwcq0ntq4y

— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2024

Rs 28,608 crore reserved for Gruha Lakshmi scheme: A grant of Rs 28,608 crore will be provided in the year 2024-25 for the Gurha Lakshmi scheme which leads to family maintenance as well as income generation.
Through five ‘guarantees’, Karnataka govt is putting Rs 52,000 Cr in the hands of crores of people during 2024-25
An average of Rs 50,000 to Rs 55,000 is transferred to each family every year through ‘guarantee’ schemes
Tax slabs for Indian Made Liquor (IML) and beer will be revised
All services rendered by Excise department will be digitised
The APMC Act will be amended to remove “anti-farmer” provisions.
Tourism policy will be revised for 2024-29 to attract more tourists and investors to make full use of the tourism potential of the State. Anjanadri Hills and surrounding areas of Koppal district hold mythological and historical importance, ₹100 crore will be provided to develop tourism in these areas
Cable car facilities in 10 tourist destinations – for boosting tourism.
Karnataka government to set up Kisan Malls in the State. A hi-tech commercial flower market in Bengaluru and a Spice Park in Chikkamagalur will also be set up.
Unveiling transformative steps in Karnataka’s Budget 2024-25 to revolutionise our horticulture landscape. Proud to introduce Kisan Malls for a seamless farming experience, a global floriculture market in Bengaluru for a blooming future, and advanced packhouses to enhance our… pic.twitter.com/kz5cUSb7bM

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) February 16, 2024
Tourism policy will be revised for 2024-29 to attract more tourists and investors to make full use of the tourism potential of the State. Anjanadri Hills and surrounding areas of Koppal district hold mythological and historical importance, Rs 100 crore will be provided to develop tourism in these areas
50 women-run cafes to be established across the state at Rs 7.5 crore. “50 women-run cafes with the name of Cafe Sanjeevini will be launched across the state during this year for ₹7.50 crore. These canteens will cater to the demand and supply gap in rural areas for healthy, hygienic, and affordable cooked food and traditional local cuisine”
Centre’s ”anti-people” decisions led to widening inequality, concentration of wealth in a few hands & crony capitalism, says CM
CM Siddaramaiah continues his speech amid uproar from the Opposition. The BJP, led by Legislative party leader R Ashoka, disapproved of the CM’s remarks accusing the Centre of denying funds to the state government.
“Loss of Rs 59,274 Crore was incurred by Karnataka due to unscientific implementation of GST in last 7 years” Siddaramaiah attacks the central government. “While introducing Goods and Services Tax, Union Government had assured that there would be growth of 14% and states would be compensated in case of shortage in revenue growth. At a projected growth rate of 14%, it was estimated that the GST tax collection would be Rs. 4,92,296 crore from 2017 to 2023-24. However, only ₹3,26,764 crore GST revenue was collected and against the GST shortfall of Rs. 1,65,532 crore, the Central Government had released ₹1,06,258 crore as compensation to the state. Hence, a loss of ₹59,274 crore was incurred by the state due to unscientific implementation of GST in the last 7 years” he said.
Our guarantee schemes are not just an election gimmick. I firmly believe in the guarantee schemes. They are for the development of the poor.
We have done what the central government has failed to do. Despite false narratives, we have successfully implemented the 5 guarantees.
Our guarantee schemes are internationally acclaimed. Priority for infrastructure development in Bengaluru. Increase of super specialty hospitals in 5 years.
The total budget outlay is Rs 3,71,383 lakh crore.
A lot of emphasis is given to skill development. We have governed as a model to be emulated for the country.
We have given priority to education, employment, and irrigation. We hope to restore people’s confidence. Preference for all categories through guarantee schemes. We have taken a revolutionary step in the path shown by Basavanna and Ambedkar.
Karnataka is the 2nd largest GST-contributing state in India. GST collection has increased by 18% this year, says CM
Bengaluru to be provided with world-class infrastructure
CM Siddaramaiah quotes the “Aagadu Endu, Kailagadu Endu” song from Bangarada Manushya movie of late Dr Rajkumar to begin his budget speech.