(REOPEN MDS14)

Shettar announced increase in pension under social security sechemes. Pension for destitutre widows and physically challenged pesons will go up from Rs 400 to Rs 500 per month, for those who are 80 years from Rs 500 to Rs 750 and physically challenged persons with disability of more than 75 per cent from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200. Honorarium for Anganwadi workers and assistants would be increased by Rs 500 and Rs 250 respectively, he said. Shettar said an allocation of Rs 6,203 crore had been made for development of Bangalore city and Farmers Income Commission will be set up as per the recommendations of noted agro scientist Dr M S Swaminathan to improve the lives of the farming community. The government also decided to set up Karnataka State World Heritage Commission for development, preservation and maintenance of heritage sites, earmarking Rs two crore this year. Shettar lowered VAT on arecanut dehusking machine from 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent, Cocoa husk and refractory monolithic powder from 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent. Tax on purchase of supplementary nutrition food made under the integrated child development scheme for supply to children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and adolescents by anganwadi centre run by women and child welfare department will also be reduced from 14.5 per cent to 5.5. Per cent. Similarly, tax on domestic containers would come down to 5.5 per cent from 14.5 per cent and by similar quantum on doors and window frames and door and window shutters made from waste plastic. Shettar, who had recently visited Chamarajnagar, breaking a jinx attached to the town that chief ministers visiting it would lose power, granted Rs 100 crore special package for the district development. Soubhagya Sanjeevini for Coastal area districts of Uttara Kannada, Udupi and Dakshina Kannda to ease drinking water problem, Manegondu Souchalaya (a toilet for every house) were the other programmes announced in the budget.