Cabinet approves a slew of welfare proposals

Cabinet approves a slew of welfare proposals For improving the delivery of health services, the State Cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal for purchase of modern diagnostic equipment, including CT and MRI scanners, for district hospitals. The proposal is estimated to cost Rs.103 crore. The purchase is being made as part of the government programme to provide best diagnostic services for poor

patients free of cost, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra told presspersons after the meeting.

Shoes and socks

The Cabinet has decided provide free shoes and socks to 10,000 SC/ST students perusing vocational courses in government, aided and private Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the current academic year (2016-17). This would cost Rs. 10.22 crore.

He said the students would also be given free tool kits, which is estimated to cost Rs. 47.84 crore.

The Cabinet also cleared the proposal for purchase of 133 mini buses under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM)-2 for city transport services in urban areas including Tumakuru and Shivamogga. The estimated cost of buses would be Rs. 32.33 crore, to be shared by Centre, State and KSRTC.

The Cabinet approved a Rs. 1,395 crore proposal of the Karnataka State Road Development Corporation to build 195 bridges to improve connectivity to highways, Mr. Jayachandra said.

Permission was granted for re-plantation of rubber on 330 hectares in Sullya and Puttur taluks in Dakshina Kannada district by the forest department (at Rs. 19.04 crore).

Session:

Mr. Jayachandra said a joint session of the State legislature would be held from February 6 to 10 and Governor Vajubhai R Vala would address it. The general issues would be discussed during the session.