Jagalur (Davanagere), Nov 9: The Karnataka government is focusing on infrastructure development alongside the implementation of its guarantee schemes, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister T Raghumurthy said on Monday.
Speaking after inaugurating and launching development works worth ₹31.82 crore across the Jagalur Assembly constituency, including Bilichodu, the minister said the government viewed political power as an opportunity to serve people.
He said the Janaseva programme had been launched to hear public grievances and resolve them locally. Welfare initiatives, including free bus travel for women, were aimed at improving public welfare.
Raghumurthy said around ₹10,000 crore had been released for Scheduled Tribe development but expressed concern that the benefits were not reaching eligible communities effectively. He said a State Council meeting would be convened to examine the issue.
Criticising the Opposition for focusing on personal attacks, he said the Cabinet had approved development projects worth ₹16,000 crore at its Mangaluru meeting. He challenged Opposition parties to explain the grants and schemes they had secured from the Centre.
MLA B Devendrappa said development works were being prioritised in remote villages, including Chikkamannahatti.
Major projects include a ₹10 crore bridge, a ₹15.75 crore industrial area at Baggenahalli, a ₹2 crore sports arena in Jagalur, a ₹1 crore community hall, a government school building, a library, an executive branch building and a CC road in an ST colony.
Officials, elected representatives and villagers attended the programme.