Khandre credits Article 371(J) for expanding opportunities in Kalyana Karnataka
Minister Eshwar Khandre says Article 371(J) has widened education and employment avenues for Kalyana Karnataka's youth.
Article 371(J) of the Constitution has widened access to education and employment for young people in Kalyana Karnataka, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Thursday, addressing the Kalyana Karnataka Utsav at the District Nehru Stadium in Bidar after unfurling the national flag.
The Minister, who is also the district in-charge for Bidar, recalled that the region had freed itself from the Nizam's rule on September 17, 1948, following a long struggle involving thousands of people. He paid tribute to the leaders and activists of that movement, saying their contribution must always be remembered.
Under the special status granted by Article 371(J), Mr. Khandre said, thousands of people from the region had secured government jobs through special reservation, while students had gained better access to medical, engineering, dental and other professional courses.
On the ongoing construction of the modern Anubhava Mantapa at Basavakalyan, he said the ₹750-crore project was about 70% complete and was expected to be inaugurated around Basava Jayanti next year.
Turning to the drought situation, the Minister said the government had put arrangements in place to prevent drinking water shortages. The Centre had been asked to simplify the norms for declaring drought and to raise relief assistance, he said.
A sum of ₹306 crore has been released for drinking water management across the State, with additional funds provided to Bidar district, he said. Officials have been instructed to drill new borewells, hire borewells or arrange water tankers wherever required.
Employment guarantee works have been stepped up in all 181 gram panchayats of Bidar district since July 1 to curb distress migration, Mr. Khandre said, adding that around 110 lakh person-days had been generated over the past two months.
He also listed development initiatives for Bidar, including road improvement, tourism infrastructure, the proposed Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Research Centre, development of Bidar city, renovation of the Chitguppa barrage and works under the Karanja irrigation project.
Among those present were Bidar Lok Sabha member Sagar Khandre, MLAs Rahim Khan and Shailendra Beldale, Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma, Zilla Panchayat CEO Gitte Madhav Vitthal Rao and Superintendent of Police Pradeep Gunti.