Vishwanath, MLC, seeks expert panel to review State’s guarantee schemes

A.H. Vishwanath, MLC, on Saturday demanded that the State government constitute an expert committee to examine whether Karnataka has witnessed tangible development following the implementation of its five guarantee schemes.

Addressing reporters in Mysuru, Mr. Vishwanath launched a sharp attack on the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging that instead of focusing on long-term development in education and healthcare, the administration had prioritised “freebies.”

He claimed that several government schools were facing closure and that hospitals lacked adequate funds to run diagnostic services. “What kind of government is being run? People are watching everything. The government must introduce schemes that truly benefit the people, not merely distribute Rs 2,000,” he remarked.

Referring to former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, Mr. Vishwanath said Mr. Hegde had initiated ‘Chintakara Chavadi’ to seek expert opinions before taking major decisions. He suggested that the CM similarly consult experts and intellectuals instead of assuming that governance revolves around one individual. The government, he alleged, had “forgotten human resources.”

The MLC further claimed that the State government had no funds to reimburse the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation for free rides offered under the ‘Shakti’ guarantee scheme. He called for the proposed expert committee to study whether the guarantee schemes had actually benefited people over the last three years.

Highlighting issues in the power sector, Mr. Vishwanath pointed out that transmission losses stood at 27% and that electricity supply companies had proposed a tariff hike this year. “On one hand, the government is giving freebies, and on the other, it is hiking prices of essential services like electricity,” he said.

He suggested that free bus travel under the Shakti scheme be restricted to working women, such as those employed in the garment industry and so on, instead of being extended universally. He also dismissed the government’s claim that the scheme had boosted tourism and increased footfall at religious centres and temples.

Mr. Vishwanath further stated that Mr. Siddaramaiah should make way for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to take over as Chief Minister, asserting that Mr. Shivakumar’s contribution to the Congress party’s return to power was equally significant.