Guarantee schemes implemented to achieve equality, says Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Congress government implemented the guarantee schemes to ensure equality in society, divided owing to the caste system.

Speaking at Samarpana Samavesha in Hassan on December 6, Mr. Siddaramaiah said through freedom, India’s people got political freedom and equal rights. “The equal rights will not have any meaning unless everyone gets equal opportunities. We have not been able to achieve equality even after 75 years of freedom because of the caste system. Hence, the Congress government introduced five guarantees to strengthen people economically,” the Chief Minister said.

The government implemented all five guarantee schemes within a few months after coming to power in 2023. It spent more than ₹1.08 lakh crore towards implementing these schemes. “The people who benefited from the guarantee schemes should answer the people who criticised the schemes,” he stated.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that his government will consider developing the vacant land at the reservoir constructed for river Hemavathi at Goruru in Hassan taluk into a park to attract tourists. “Around 700 acres of land are available near the reservoir. The same could be developed into a park. We will consider it and take a decision,” he added.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that the Mekedatu project would benefit the people of Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar districts. “The Supreme Court clearly stated that the objections over the project should be handled by the Central Water Commission and Cauvery Water Management Authority, not the court. The judgement has come in favour of the State,” he pointed out.

Appreciating the Revenue Department, the Deputy Chief Minister said its work has benefited over 50,000 people in Hassan district. “This is not a small achievement. Earlier, people had to pay heavy bribes to avail the department’s services,” he said.

The Chief Minister and his colleagues laid the foundation stone for several development works, which have an estimated cost of ₹166 crore, and inaugurated the completed projects worth over ₹132 crore. The Revenue Department distributed title deeds and land documents to hundreds of beneficiaries.