Kalaburagi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah marked the Kalyana Karnataka Utsav 2025 with a strong pitch for regional development, inclusive growth and special status benefits under Article 371J, asserting that the state’s overall progress is incomplete without the upliftment of Kalyana Karnataka.
Extending greetings to citizens, Siddaramaiah recalled the historical sacrifices made during the Hyderabad-Karnataka liberation struggle, praising freedom fighters such as Sharangouda Inamdar, Raja Venkatappa Nayak, Dattatreya Alavandi, Hakikat Rao, Chandrashekhar Patil, Amar Singh Rathod and others. “This land of sacrifice and struggle joined India because of the determination of Nehru and Sardar Patel, and the courage of countless warriors. Their contribution is unforgettable,” he said.
Special Status Under Article 371J
The CM highlighted how decades of agitation for special status culminated in the UPA government amending the Constitution in 2013, despite earlier rejection by the Vajpayee-led NDA government. He credited Mallikarjun Kharge and the late Dharam Singh for their leadership in achieving Article 371J, which ensured reservations in jobs and education.
According to Siddaramaiah, since 2013, 1,19,923 posts were notified and over 84,620 posts filled, while thousands of students gained admission to professional courses under the quota. He emphasized that vacancies will be filled in phases now that internal reservation hurdles are cleared.
Development Investments and Projects
From 2013-14 to 2025-26, ₹24,780 crore has been allocated to the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB), of which ₹14,000 crore has already been spent on 41,103 projects—nearly 33,000 completed. The government has now allocated ₹5,000 crore for 2025-26, focusing on education, health, infrastructure, employment and women empowerment schemes.
Key highlights include:
- Education & Skill Development: Recruitment of 5,267 teachers, “Akshara Avishkara” programme, 350 new schools, 250 crore for higher education, GTTC skill centres in Koppal and Kalaburagi, and an international-standard ITI upgrade.
- Healthcare: ₹1,797 crore under “Arogya Avishkara”, super-specialty hospitals in Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, cancer units, NIMHANS-style mental health facility, and Jayadeva Heart Institute expansion.
- Infrastructure: “Kalyana Patha” and “Pragathi Patha” road networks worth over ₹6,200 crore, irrigation works worth ₹480 crore, and urban housing, sanitation and water supply projects across seven districts.
- Industry & Employment: Textile Park in Kalaburagi, Auto Cluster, Agro-Tech Accelerator, horticulture tech park, special industrial incentives under Karnataka Industrial Policy 2025-30, and a ₹1,000 crore LEAP accelerator to create 5 lakh jobs.
- Welfare & Guarantee Schemes: ₹1 lakh crore spent statewide; in Kalyana Karnataka, 21.4 lakh families received free electricity, 24.7 lakh women got ₹2,000 each under Gruha Lakshmi, and 77 crore free bus trips for women.
Call for National Support
Siddaramaiah urged the Union Government to immediately approve AIIMS at Raichur, and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to make Kalaburagi a regional health hub, fulfilling the dream of Mallikarjun Kharge.
Symbol of Cultural Pride
The CM also announced:
- Vachana Mantapa in Kalaburagi,
- Completion of Anubhava Mantapa in Basavakalyan,
- ₹313 crore for heritage conservation, including Sannati development,
- Promotion of Kalaburagi “Rotti” globally as a GI product.
“Kalyana Karnataka’s progress is essential for Karnataka’s holistic growth. Our government is committed to erasing regional disparity through education, health, infrastructure and employment. Let us build a new Karnataka and a new India with unity, inclusivity and determination,” Siddaramaiah declared.
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