Priyank Kharge reveals free student bus passes, youth employment centres, infrastructure measures approved by new Karnataka Cabinet
Bengaluru, June 4
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday revealed a series of key decisions taken during the first cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, saying the new cabinet had prioritised education, youth employment, infrastructure development and social welfare.
In a post on X, Kharge said the cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivakumar, approved several initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for students and young people while accelerating the state's development agenda.
Among the major decisions announced was the extension of free bus passes to students of schools and colleges across Karnataka. Kharge said the measure would reduce the financial burden on low-income families and encourage greater access to education.
The cabinet also approved the establishment of "Youth Employment Bridge" employment exchange centres to help job seekers find opportunities that match their qualifications. The initiative is aimed at addressing unemployment concerns and creating stronger links between youth and employers.
To promote sports, cultural activities, scientific thinking, social harmony and community participation among young people, the government has decided to establish 10,000 Bharat Jodo Yuva Sangh clubs across gram panchayats and urban wards. Kharge said each club would receive a grant of Rs 10 lakh, taking the total allocation for the programme to Rs 1,000 crore.
The cabinet further approved a one-time exemption from solvency certificate requirements for certain residential buildings seeking electricity connections. The move is expected to benefit homeowners with eligible residential properties and simplify access to utility services.
Kharge also said the government would simplify laws and regulations to enable eligible properties to be converted from B-account to A-account across rural and urban areas. According to him, the measure will help citizens secure proper property documentation and improve transparency in land records.
In addition, the cabinet approved an extra Rs 3,000 crore for road infrastructure development within the jurisdictions of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), including improvements to ward-level roads.
The decisions were taken during the first official cabinet meeting held at Vidhana Soudha, a day after Shivakumar assumed office as Karnataka's 34th Chief Minister. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, senior ministers and top bureaucrats as the new government outlined its policy priorities for the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a college student in Bengaluru, I'm thrilled about the bus pass scheme—it's a huge relief for parents like mine who struggle with daily commute costs. But I hope the government ensures these passes are actually issued on time and without bribery. Also, Rs 10 lakh per Bharat Jodo Yuva Sangh club seems generous, let's see how it's utilized on ground.
Good decisions overall, but I'm skeptical about the B-account to A-account conversion. Land records in Karnataka are a mess—hope this doesn't lead to more litigation or corruption. The Rs 3,000 crore for Bengaluru roads is welcome, but let's be honest, the city needs at least Rs 10,000 crore to fix the infrastructure mess. Baby steps, I suppose.
Namaskara! As a small businessman from Hubli, I appreciate the solvency certificate exemption for electricity connections—saves us from running around for paperwork. But I worry about the Rs 1,000 crore for youth clubs—that's a lot of money. Hope it's spent on actual activities like sports and skill training, not just on administrative expenses. Accountability is key!
I'm cautiously optimistic. The free bus passes and employment centers are great ideas, but implementation is everything in Karnataka. Remember how many schemes got stuck in red tape? Let's see if DK Shivakumar and team can deliver. The road infrastructure funding for GBA and BDA is much needed—I drive through Jayanagar daily and the potholes are a nightmare! 😅
This is a decent start, but I wish they'd also
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