The Planning Commission approved a plan size of `47,000 crore for Karnataka for the year 2013-14, which is 11.8 per cent hike over the previous fiscal. The plan was finalized in a meeting between Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
"We have approved plan size of ` 47,000 crore. In addition to that, through the normal central assistance programme, about `10,000 crore will go into Karnataka to help engage development," Ahluwalia told reporters after the meeting.
"The new Government should work out a strategy to take maximum advantage when the economy is on recovery path. Special attention was needed to give necessary impetus to education and health sectors," he added.
State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said several initiatives are being taken aimed at impacting the lives of the poor and marginalised people. "These include enhancing the milk subsidy from `2 to ` 4 per litre. This will benefit 7.5 lakh milk producing farmers in the state. The majority of these farmers are small and marginal. The unit cost of rural housing has been raised from Rs one lakh to Rs 1.50 lakh. Subsidy for rural housing has been raised from Rs 75,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh," Siddaramaiah said.