Bengaluru: Karnataka has registered a robust GSDP growth of 10.2 per cent in 2023-24, the state government said on Monday. Citing a data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the government said in a statement that the state has significantly surpassed the national average of 8.2 per cent.

“Initially, the National Statistical Estimate (NSE) had projected a modest 4 per cent GSDP growth for Karnataka, but this was revised to 13.1 per cent by the end of the fiscal year, indicating early underestimation of the state’s economic performance,” the statement read.

The government pointed out that this feat was achieved despite severe challenges, including the worst drought in a decade and a slowdown in global IT markets. The state’s agriculture sector faced negative growth due to drought conditions, while Karnataka’s dependence on the IT and hardware sectors—accounting for 28 per cent of its Gross State Value Added (GSVA)—made it vulnerable to global economic downturns, according to the statement.

The Indian IT industry’s growth, which slowed from 15.5 per cent in FY 2022 to 8 per cent in FY 2023, reflected global recessionary fears and inflation. For FY 2024-25, the NSE forecasts Karnataka’s GSDP to grow at 9.4 per cent, slightly below the national average projection of 10.5 per cent, the statement said.

However, the Ministry of Finance projects a more optimistic 14 per cent growth for the state, supported by strong fiscal indicators, it added. “As of September 2024, Karnataka recorded a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in GST collections and a 24 per cent surge in stamp duty revenue, signaling a healthy economic trajectory,” the government said.

Karnataka’s per capita GSDP remains among the highest in the country, on par with Telangana, reflecting the strength of Congress-led governance in both states, the statement said. The state government gave credit to its pro-people policies, including its five guarantees, saying they have ensured that the benefits of growth reach all sections of society.

Bengaluru Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced that all Scheduled Tribe (ST) residential schools in the state and the Raichur University will be named after Maharishi Valmiki.

He made this announcement after inaugurating the Valmiki Jayanti programme, organised by the Department of Backward Classes Welfare here.

“All Scheduled Tribe residential schools and University of Raichur will be named after Maharishi Valmiki… it is my wish that the name and life of Valmiki, who reached the pinnacle of achievement through perseverance, should be immortalized,” Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing the event, Siddaramaiah also criticised the BJP, alleging despite being in power at the Centre and in several states, the saffron party has not implemented the SCSP (Scheduled Castes Sub Plan) and TSP (Tribal Sub Plan) policies anywhere.

“Our government was the first to reserve budget funds proportionate to the SC/ST population through these schemes. I initiated the concept of hostels for marginalized communities, and I will ensure there is one in every hobli,” he said.

Further, the CM, called out the BJP, accusing it of opposing welfare schemes and “merely paying lip service” to the idea of equality.

“True equality can’t come without addressing economic and social disparities, as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar warned,” he said.

Siddaramaiah also urged marginalized communities to stand united and develop the courage to speak the truth. “Don’t believe my words blindly. Think, reflect, and discern between truth and lies. That will be the real way to honor Maharshi Valmiki,” he said.

The Chief Minister also noted that historically marginalized communities like the Kuruba and Besta castes made significant contributions to literature and philosophy.

Pointing out that Kalidasa, the renowned playwright of Shakuntala, belonged to the Kuruba community, Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata, came from the Besta community, and Maharishi Valmiki, who wrote the Ramayana, was from a similar background, he said. “People made up stories on how a bandit like Valmiki couldn’t possibly write the Ramayana, just because these communities did not have access from education and learning Sanskrit.”

Highlighting that despite societal barriers, individuals from these communities studied Sanskrit and created masterpieces like the Ramayana, which is a source of pride and inspiration for everyone, Siddaramaiah said, “When access was provided to education, they excelled and became inspirations to the world. Valmiki promoted equality and equal opportunities for all. The concept of Ram Rajya in the Ramayana represents a society where fairness and equal opportunities prevail.”

He said Maharshi Valmiki had provided shelter and education to Lava and Kusha, the sons of Lord Rama, proving that he stood for universal values.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation, where misappropriation of funds was reported earlier this year, will face no shortage of funds.

“The misappropriation of funds in the Valmiki Corporation should not be a reason for any shortage of funds for the tribal development,” Siddaramaiah told reporters after a meeting on tribal development.

The government will sanction the funds to the Corporation as announced in the Budget in February this year, he said.

Siddaramaiah said there was misappropriation of funds to the tune Rs 89.63 crore, out of which Rs 71.54 crore has been recovered.

The ED had earlier arrested Congress MLA B Nagendra and five other key accused during its probe into the ‘scam’ at the Corporation.\

Nagendra was granted bail by the Special Court for People’s Representatives here on Monday.

He had resigned as the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister in June following allegations of his involvement in the ‘scam.’

The ED said last week Nagendra has been identified as the primary accused and mastermind behind the scam, allegedly orchestrating it with the help of 24 others.

The ED had said its investigation revealed that under the influence of Nagendra, the account of the corporation was moved to the MG Road Branch without any proper authorisation, where Rs 187 Crore, including Rs. 43.33 Crore from the State Treasury under the Ganga Kalyana Scheme, were deposited without following proper procedures and in violation of government guidelines.

“These funds were subsequently siphoned off through multiple shell accounts and converted into cash and bullion. ED investigation also revealed that an amount of Rs. 20.19 Crore of the diverted funds was used to support a candidate contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Bellary constituency, as well as for the personal expenses of B. Nagendra,” the federal probe agency added.

New Delhi: The Karnataka government on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it has withdrawn its notification for conducting board examinations for students of classes 5, 8 and 9 in the current academic year in three rural districts.

A bench comprising Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma was hearing an appeal filed by Organisation for Unaided Recognised Schools against the March 22, judgement of the Karnataka High Court.

The high court’s division bench had permitted the state government to conduct the board exams for classes 5,8, 9 and 11 for the academic year 2023-24, overruling the March 6 order of a single judge’s bench.

The single judge of the high court had nullified the state government’s decision of October 2023 to hold board exams for these classes through the Karnataka State Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB).

On April 8, the apex court stayed the high court division bench order and a April 6 order passed by the Karnataka School Quality Assessment and Accreditation Council “till further orders”.

“This is a classic instance whereby no one else than the state government of Karnataka has sought to create a havoc and great distress not only amongst the students and their parents, but also amongst the teachers and the school managements in the state of Karnataka,” the bench had then noted.

On Tuesday, the bench was informed by Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta that the state government had withdrawn the notification.

“The withdrawal is done. It was a mistake on our part. I can assure my learned friend that even if exams were conducted, no results will be out…,” he said.

The bench asked as to why the state government was bent on troubling the parents and children.

“There appears to be some ego problem on part of the state,” Justice Trivedi remarked.

Mehta, however, clarified that there were some errors in grant of marks in the three districts, also becoming the reason behind the notification for conducting examinations.

The bench then posted the hearing after a week.

Advocates K V Dhananjay and A Velan, appearing for the petitioners, had previously informed the bench that despite the apex court’s interim order staying the board examinations for classes 5, 8, 9 and 11, the state government conducted a half-yearly board exam for class 10 and a public exam for classes 8 and 9 in September.

The bench had asked the petitioner to file a contempt application against the state government for the alleged defiance of its order after the petitioner said the state government’s move despite the stay order amounted to contempt.

The Karnataka high court division bench had interpreted the notifications issued by the state government regarding the board exams as guidelines rather than strict regulations, based on its understanding of the powers granted under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

Bengaluru: A special court here on Tuesday granted bail to Karnataka BJP MLA Muniratna, who is in judicial custody, in connection with a rape case.

A case was registered after a woman lodged a complaint at Kaggalipur police station in Ramanagara, alleging that Muniratna, who represents the Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency, raped her at various locations.

Before these accusations surfaced, Muniratna had already been arrested in a separate case involving caste abuse and death threats made to a contractor. After securing bail in that case, the rape allegations emerged, leading to his re-arres

In response to the woman’s allegations, the state government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate.

The MLA was taken into custody for questioning and later transferred to jail.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday said that National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the city following heavy rain forecast.

He said Fire and Emergency Services have also been placed on standby for immediate response.

“I have advised BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to be on high alert. We have already deployed about 60 NDRF/SDRF personnel in Bengaluru and redeploying another 40 to be on stand by for any necessity. We have put Fire and Emergency Services on stand by for immediate response,” the Minister said in an online post.

The Bengaluru District administration has declared a holiday for schools for tomorrow.

Incessant rains since early Tuesday threw normal life out of gear in central and southern parts of Karnataka, including the state capital Bengaluru where several localities witnessed water-logging and traffic congestion.

Bengaluru The Karnataka High Court has upheld the Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) power to accept or reject bids in site auctions without providing reasons.

A division bench consisting of Justice Anu Sivaraman and Justice G Basavaraja concluded that the BDA’s decision was lawful, aligning with the public interest and benefiting the general public.

The case arose after the BDA challenged a single-judge bench decision that quashed its rejection of a bid by a person named Sachin Nagarajappa.

The single judge had directed the BDA to confirm Nagarajappa’s bid of Rs 1,54,000 per square metre, prompting the authority to appeal.

The BDA argued that its actions were consistent with the BDA (Disposal of Corner Sites and Commercial Sites) Rules, 1984, which empower the authority to accept or reject bids without offering explanations.

The BDA emphasised that public property auctions aim to secure the highest possible price, and it retains the right to cancel bids if the offered price is deemed inadequate.

The division bench referred to Rule 7 and the General Terms and Conditions of the BDA’s e-Auction Notification, noting that the rule allows the authority to reject bids without providing reasons.

The court emphasised that the judiciary cannot interfere with the policy decisions made by the legislature or regulatory bodies unless there is evidence of illegality or misconduct.

Since the respondent did not challenge the constitutionality of Rule 7, and no evidence of fraud, collusion, or favoritism was presented, the court observed and concluded that the BDA’s decision was neither arbitrary nor irrational.

It further noted that the property had been sold for over Rs 10 crore in a subsequent auction, benefiting the BDA.

The division bench set aside the single-judge bench ruling and upheld the BDA’s decision to reject the bid.

BJP MLA Munirathna

Bengaluru: The Special MP/MLA Court in Bengaluru on Monday granted anticipatory bail to three individuals in a rape case in which BJP MLA Munirathna is also an accused.

Lohit, Kiran, and Manjunath were granted bail by Judge Santhosh Gajanan Bhat.

The case was filed against Munirathna and others following a complaint by a 40-year-old woman, a social worker from Rajarajeshwari Nagar who had been active in the BJP.

The FIR was registered at the Kaggalipura police station.

Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot

Bengaluru: Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot has been accorded Z+ security by the Union Home Ministry, following a security review. The enhanced security, which was previously managed by the state police, will now be overseen by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Raj Bhavan officials confirmed. Armed CRPF personnel will accompany the governor in shifts during his travels across the state.

The decision was based on a review conducted by central intelligence agencies. Although the specific reasons behind the upgrade remain unclear, it is believed to be connected to the governor’s approval of an investigation into the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) case, which allegedly involves Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his wife.

This security upgrade follows protests from Congress, including a controversial statement by Congress MLC Ivan D’Souza, who warned of a ‘Bangladesh-type agitation’ to remove the governor. In response, the Karnataka government had already provided Gehlot with a bulletproof vehicle.

While all governors are eligible for Z+ security, Gehlot, who assumed office in July 2021, had not opted for this level of protection until now. The Centre extended the enhanced cover after the latest threat assessment, which is conducted every six months. The CRPF has taken charge of the governor’s security, with additional procedures expected to be finalised this week.

Gehlot, 76, previously served as the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment from 2014. He is the first person from Madhya Pradesh to hold the position of Governor in Karnataka.

Nasheman news

*Dr. Patil highlights the initiative’s focus on women empowerment

*Akka Café set to drive socio-economic growth across Karnataka

*Program spearheaded by National Livelihood Mission-Karnataka

Devanahalli (Bengaluru Rural), October 8: Minister for medical education, skill development, entrepreneurship and livelihood, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, emphasized the pivotal role of women empowerment in advancing Karnataka’s socio-economic development during the launch of the state government’s Akka Café initiative on Tuesday.

Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Patil underscored the initiative’s transformative potential for women in both urban and rural areas, fostering self-reliance and entrepreneurship. “The Akka Café initiative will create a lasting impact on Karnataka’s socio-economic landscape by empowering women, especially in rural areas, and promoting entrepreneurship,” he said.

Akka Café, introduced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the 2024-25 budget, is aimed at bolstering economic empowerment for women and creating sustainable livelihoods. The program specifically supports women entrepreneurs, particularly from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), by offering them opportunities to manage and operate state-of-the-art cafés. These cafés will showcase local cuisine while adhering to high standards of quality and hygiene.

In its first phase, the government plans to establish 50 cafés across the state, blending rural and urban locations. SHG women will manage these cafés, receiving up to Rs 15 lakh in grants for setup costs, including infrastructure support. In addition, 2500 coffee kiosks will be opened across the state. Rural women will trained with the help of central coffee board. For this Rs 25 crore has been set aside

This aligns with the government’s broader vision of promoting sustainable livelihoods and empowering women economically.

The National Livelihood Mission-Karnataka (NLM) is implementing the Akka Café initiative through the Startup Village Entrepreneurship Program (SVEP) under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment in rural areas.

To ensure the success of the initiative, NLM has partnered with IHM-Bengaluru to provide SHG women with the necessary skills to manage the cafés effectively. Additionally, NLM is piloting a bakery unit, also run by SHG women entrepreneurs, with training facilitated by a partner NGO. This bakery unit will serve as a cloud kitchen, supplying items like cookies, muffins, and cakes to Akka Cafés in Bengaluru, while also operating a premium bakery outlet in Devanahalli. The bakery unit, backed by innovative technology and sound business practices, will provide an additional revenue stream for women entrepreneurs, further enhancing their economic independence.

The launch ceremony was attended by Food and Civil Supplies Minister and Bengaluru Rural District Incharge Minister KH Muniyappa, additional chief secretary Uma Mahadevan, NRLM mission director PI Sree Vidya, Bangalore rural DC N Shiva Shankar, Bangalore rural ZP CEO KN Anuradha

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CLOUD KITCHEN FACILITY

You no longer need to travel to Devanahalli or distant locations to enjoy the delicious offerings of Akka Café. Thanks to the initiative by the Livelihood Department, Akka Café products are now available through a cloud kitchen service. Simply order online and have your favorite bakery items delivered right to your doorstep.