Temples and cows are given first priority
In the Budget presented by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday, the Hindutva agenda was a priority, with emphasis on temples and cow protection.
At the BJP state executive meeting in December 2021, Mr. Bommai promised to give autonomy to temples under the Endowment Department. It will be necessary to take legal action to delegate the discretion of developing works to temples. Hindutva groups have been lobbying for the abolition of the Endowment Department, but the Budget proposes giving temple trusts autonomy within the department’s remit.
The Budget earmarked ₹100 crore for the development of Anjanadri Hill in Koppal, believed to be the “birth place” of Anjaneya, as a tourist destination with ropeway facilities for the hill. Mr. Bommai has championed the project and positioned it in relation to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. He had also announced that the temple would be developed by the time Ram Mandir comes up in Ayodhya and said he would get Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the temple works.
The adoption scheme
In an attempt to address the stray cattle problem that could arise due to Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, the Budget allocates ₹50 crore to increase the number of goshalas from the present 31 to 100. The government is also looking for private participation for conservation of cows. “The government will launch ‘Punyakoti Dattu Yojane’ to encourage public and private institutions to adopt cows in the goshalas by paying ₹11,000 annually,” the Budget said. It also announced financial assistance to form a Gomata Sahakara Sangha for marketing eco-friendly products from waste generated in goshalas.
