K'taka CM favours micro credit for poor
In a bid to bridge the widening gap between the poor and rich in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has favoured launching of a Bangladesh-model "micro credit plan" in the state.
By PTI |
BANGALORE: In a bid to bridge the widening gap between the poor and rich in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has favoured launching of a Bangladesh-model "micro credit plan" in the state.
The process of reforms initiated under "globalisation and economic liberalisation" had made rich richer and left poor even poorer, Kumaraswamy told the media while commenting on the prevailing economic situation on the eve of the JD(S)-BJP government completing one year in office.
Kumaraswamy said the economic policies being pursued now have to be changed.
Explaining the micro credit plan that he has in mind, he said, there are thousands of families who eke out their living by selling on pavements, streets, bus stations and other busy junctions.
They do business with a couple of thousands of Rupees they borrow from money lenders at exhorbitant interest and repay the amount the same day with interest, he said.
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If the government could grant them credit ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000, these sections would be helped to a greater extent in carrying out their business and earn their livelihood."The entire scheme may require about Rs 3,000 crore," he said.
However, Kumaraswamy did not spell out whether his micro credit plan has any blue print and when it would be launched.
"Several of my visits to rural areas, my stay in poor households in the last one year and the people who poured out their woes at the Janata Darshans have led me to conclude that we have to blame it on to the system for the ills faced by people," Kumaraswamy said.
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Charging that all the governments that were in office earlier have to be blamed for pursuing populist programmes with an intention to appease people and not looking at the critical issues concerning commoners, he said "the system has to change and all should think in this direction".Responding to a query whether he too failed in ushering in changes and improving the lives of poor, he shot back "everyone is responsible".
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Kumarasawmy, who was propelled onto Chief Minister's seat following a political coup staged by him by forming the coalition government with BJP, lashed out at the previous regime for hiring "private agencies" for recruitment."In the name of outsourcing, private agencies were asked to recruit people for C and D category posts. The employees got meagre salary. Though they earned, their standard of living did not improve. The outsourcing has only resulted in revival of bonded labour system", he said.
Kumaraswamy ridiculed those who link GDP growth to evaluate the standard of living of people, particularly the poor, remarking, "GDP growth will not better the economic position of poor".
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