Belagavi Leaders Voice Discontent Over Karnataka State Budget
Leaders from industrial, agricultural, and various organizational sectors in Belagavi have reacted strongly to the state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, expressing widespread disappointment over unmet demands and perceived neglect of key regional issues.
Industrial Sector Expresses Frustration Over Unfulfilled Promises
Prabhakar Nagarmanoli, President of the Belagavi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), revealed that despite meeting the chief minister with a delegation, their critical requests were ignored. "We demanded the release of Rs 130 crore as a subsidy for industrialists in Belagavi district and requested Rs 500 crore for developing the industrial corridor, but no action was taken," he stated.
Nagarmanoli further criticized the budget announcement aimed at facilitating growth in tier 2 and 3 cities, noting that "there is no concrete proposal to implement plans or allocate funds for that purpose." He lamented that attracting major industries to cities like Belagavi remains "still a dream" and highlighted the government's failure to consider adjusting GST for the industrial sector with Hescom or corporation tax.
Rohan Juvali, an industrialist and former BCCI president, echoed these concerns, pointing out that industries in Belagavi city have not received subsidies since 2020-21. "It is our long-standing dream to develop the industrial area. We have met the chief minister multiple times, and it is deeply disappointing that the government has taken no action," he said, while expressing hope that existing industries would continue to grow in Belagavi despite the setbacks.
Agricultural Community Highlights Budget Shortcomings
Sidagouda Modagi, President of the Bharatiya Krishik Samaj (BKS), expressed frustration over budget allocations, stating that "it is unfortunate that most of the money was allocated to guarantee schemes while all other schemes were neglected." He dismissed the Rs 8,000 crore reserved for agricultural development as "just a figure" without substantive impact.
Modagi highlighted several unmet demands:
- Despite repeated calls, the government has not paid attention to starting cold storage units in areas with high production of grapes, pomegranates, and mangoes.
- Agriculture continues to be denied industry status and associated benefits, despite persistent advocacy from farmer organizations.
- Crop damage compensation remains inadequate, and the long-standing demand for a monthly allowance of Rs 6,000 to farmers above 60 years remains unfulfilled.
"There is no social security or financial security for farmers, and no effective efforts to prevent suicides. The budgets that truly care about farmers are yet to come," he remarked.
Additional Perspectives on Budget Implications
Vijay More, former mayor of Belagavi City Corporation and founder of Shanthi Old Age Home, offered a positive note, praising the chief minister's decision to ban social media for children up to age 16 as "wise."
However, Raju Ganagi, an advocate of the high court and district president of AIDYO, criticized the budget for largely failing to address the real problems of students and unemployed youth. He specifically opposed the policy of merging government schools under the magnet model, calling it "unscientific" and warning that "this will adversely affect students from rural and economically weaker backgrounds" instead of strengthening existing institutions.
The collective response from Belagavi leaders underscores a significant disconnect between budget announcements and ground-level expectations, with calls for more actionable plans and dedicated funding to support regional development in both industrial and agricultural sectors.
