“THE VULNERABLE SECTIONS MUST BENEFIT MOST”

Karnataka chief minister SIDDARAMAIAH was recently in conversation with Group Editorial Director RAJ CHENGAPPA at his Bengaluru residence. Excerpts:

Q. You are in the fifth and final year of your tenure. You have said that you have developed a Karnataka model of development in these years. What have you focused on?

A. First and foremost, we wanted to make Karnataka a hunger-free state, for which we have undertaken many programmes. We are giving 7 kg of rice free per head for everyone in a BPL category family. We have also issued BPL cards with multiple benefits to 11 million people. The government is tackling child malnutrition and improving attendance in government schools by supplementing them with nutrition-rich mid-day meals, eggs and milk for free. Apart from poverty alleviation, our priority sectors are agriculture, social welfare, irrigation, infrastructure, power and education. Unless we ensure these, holistic development of the state is not possible. Our goal remains the same—the last man/ woman in society, the vulnerable sections and the farmers should benefit the most.

Q. Farmers have been under severe stress in Karnataka and the BJP says you neglected them. A. That’s incorrect. For the benefit of the farmers, we have implemented innovative programmes in agriculture. ‘Krishi Bhagya’ (focusing on management of rainwater to improve agricultural productivity), for instance, in rain-fed areas, is aimed at creating artificial ponds by drilling borewells. Water is stored in these tanks for use later. In the last three years, we have created 160,000 artificial tanks. This year, we earmarked Rs 800 crore for the programme as there is a great demand from

Q. The BJP says you have not kept your poll promise of rooting out corruption. They say the Anti-Corruption Bureau is ineffective.

A. The ACB has been effective. All of us are aware that corruption cannot be eradicated, but please note that my government is not involved in any scandal, major or minor. the farming community for such tanks. We have also given adequate attention to dairy farmers (milk producers). The government is offering a subsidy of Rs 5 for every litre of milk produced by marginal farmers and landless agricultural labourers. This is basically to ensure their livelihood and to make dairy farming a profitable business for them. Q. You have also announced a waiver of farmer loans and appealed to the Centre for help. Has it responded? A. Yes, we took a decision to waive loans (Rs 8,165 crore) taken by our farmers from the cooperative banks. Unfortunately, the Union government did not respond to our efforts. Our farmers have taken Rs 52,000 crore in short-term loans from nation- alised, rural and cooperative banks. We have done our job by waiving the cooperative sector loans (under our ambit), but the BJP is keeping quiet when it comes to nationalised and rural banks. I have written several times to the PM urging him to waive the loans, but there has been no response. I am disappointed.

Q. There have been charges that you have focused only on the backward classes or Ahinda to which you belong and neglected other communities? A. These are again baseless allegations by the Opposition. Our Krishi Bhagya scheme is aimed at the farmers. Do you think only Ahinda farmers enjoy the benefits? Do you think farmers from the major communities are not enjoying the benefits? Our other programmes, such as Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya, Shoe Bhagya and Pashu Bhagya, are all aimed at community well-being. We are not neglecting any community, as we believe in inclusive growth.

Q. When you came to power, you promised to improve the power, irrigation sectors. What has been done so far? A. When the BJP was in the power in the state, they did not add even 10 MW to the state grid. We, in the last four years, added 6,000 MW in power generation. Irrigation has received major impetus. During my poll campaign, I had promised to spend Rs 10,000 crore every year on irrigation and we have spent Rs 48,000 crore so far.

Q. There is a perception that under your government, investment in industry has been neglected. Is this true? A. It’s not true. We have an investor-friendly policy. We continue to remain the No. 1 in the IT sector and Bengaluru remains the Silicon Valley and knowledge capital of the country because of that. Following our Global

Investors Meet in 2016, investment inflow is much higher. In the last three months, we have surpassed even Gujarat in investments inflow. You will be surprised that we have a special impetus for industrialists from the scheduled castes and also women entrepreneurs. They are very happy with our initiatives.

Q. How many jobs have you created after assuming power?

A. My government has given special emphasis to the skilling of youth. Last year, two lakh underwent skill development and we are targeting another five lakh this year. The training will commence in August. We have formed a separate department for skill development and it reports to me directly. We have created about 2 lakh jobs (new jobs plus the filling up of existing vacancies) in the government sector in the last four years. The government sector alone employs 6.5 lakh people. Jobs have also grown comparatively in the private sector.

Q. All these programmes and waivers come at a cost. How are you managing the funds? What about the state’s fiscal deficit?

A. We are mobilising funds internally for all these programmes. We have been able to maintain the fiscal deficit under less than three per cent, in accordance with the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act (2002). Q. What about GDP growth?

A. We have been enjoying very good GDP growth. However, with the severe drought in the last two years, it dipped owing to loss of productivity in the agricultural sector. But we are still good.

Q. What is your opinion on the beef ban imposed by the Centre?

A. It is an illogical decision as a beef ban cannot be imposed. The recent notification will affect farmers and the leather industry in a big way. This decision will also impact dairy farming badly, as cattle resale is not permitted. Also, I am totally against what is happening in the name of

Q. There is a criticism that you have neglected the capital, Bengaluru...

A. No, we have given Bengaluru the attention it deserves. Recently, we allocated Rs 7,300 crore to improve the infrastructure of the city. This is in addition to the resources at the disposal of the city’s civic agencies. The infrastructure projects are in various phases of implementation. ‘gau rakshak’—killing and beating up people. This is just not done… one cannot take the law into one’s hands.

Q. How would you assess PM Narendra Modi’s performance? A. Modi talks a lot… he is good with speeches, but lacks in performance. He has hardly fulfilled any of the promises that he made during the 2014 polls. He is well-known for his U-turns and taking credit for the initiatives launched by the Congress. He had opposed Aadhaar and GST, but is now championing their cause. He launched ‘Swachh Bharat’, which was already present in the form of ‘Nirmal Bharat’. He promised to create 2 crore new jobs every year—but has created only 4 lakh jobs till now. Professionals in the IT sector are losing jobs because of poor policy. He has also failed to bring back black money from foreign shores; the demonetisation move also flopped.

Q. Do you think the prime minister practices cooperative federalism? A. He says he believes in cooperative federalism, but in reality it’s not happening. He has drastically cut funding for centrally sponsored schemes and also cancelled many beneficial schemes, such as the JNNURM and the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana. He has the habit of taking credit even for programmes in which the states’ contribution is higher. For instance, in the Smart City project, states will spend 75 per cent of the money whereas the Centre will contribute only the balance 25 per cent. Then, how can it be his programme? It is the same with the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ in which states must give 50 per cent. If we are contributing half, why is he taking credit for the scheme? Earlier, many of the centrally-sponsored schemes were in the ratio of 80 per cent from the Centre: 10 or 20 from the state. Now he has made it 50:50.

Q. The Congress continues to be in the doldrums nationally. What can be done to revive it?

A. The Congress has faced many such challenges in the past, and it has bounced back. It is the only all-India party. After the 2018 assembly elections in Karnataka, the Congress will stage a big comeback nationally... with victory here first.

Q. Do you think Rahul Gandhi should become the Congress president? A. That is for the Congress high command to decide. Having said that, Rahul will have to take responsibility of the party sooner or later.

Q. If you are re-elected as chief minister, what would you do differently in your next tenure?

A. We will continue our programmes to make Karnataka the No.1 state in the country in terms of development.