During the inauguration of the academic session of Bengaluru Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE), he noted the absence of the Planning Commission, and appreciated the city’s contribution to education and development.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh , who passed away on December 26, 2024, contributed to the growth of Karnataka in many ways, but what stands out is him saying that ‘people see India through the prism of Bengaluru’.
As prime minister in UPA-1, he provided debt relief to farmers through waiver of entire overdue interest and rescheduling of overdue loans as on June 30, 2006. He had waived off crop loans amounting to ₹72,000 crore during the UPA-I regime.
Relief to six districts in Karnataka
Under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package, Karnataka received ₹2,689.64 crore for providing relief to small farmers in Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Hassan, Kodagu and Shimoga districts. The package benefited many small farmers.
During his visit to Bengaluru, when Dharam Singh was leading a coalition government in Karnataka, Dr. Singh interacted with farmers in an auditorium of the Bangalore University. He provided several inputs to farmers and expressed his government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers and the poor.
Later, for development of agriculture, Dr Singh set up a National Commission on Farmers, headed by scientist M.S. Swaminathan, which recommended measures to boost the rural economy. This contributed to the revision of minimum support price.
Replicated RUDSETI model
Following the success of the Rural Development & Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI) set up in 1982 at Ujire in Dakshina Kannada district, by D. Veerendra Heggade with the support of Canara Bank and former Syndicate Bank, the Manmohan Singh government replicated the model at the all-India-level. He suggested that the Union Rural Development Ministry establish one Rural Self-Employment Training Institute (RSETI) in each district in 2008-09. RSETIs aim to train rural unemployed youth to take up self-employment ventures. Now, India has close to 600 RSETIs.
To monitor the work of RSETIs promoted by different banks, a National Centre for Excellence of RSETIs (NACER) was established in 2011 in Bengaluru. The Centre has bestowed on Dr Heggade the honour of being the co-chairman of the NACER Committee of RSETIs.
Connections with Bengaluru
Former Chief Minister late S. M. Krishna, who served as External Affairs Minister in the UPA government, always used to recall Dr Singh’s statement that ‘people see India through the prism of Bengaluru’.
On October 4, 2017, Dr. Singh inaugurated the academic session of Bengaluru Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School of Economics (BASE) at Ambedkar Bhavan, and noted the absence of the Planning Commission. He appreciated Bengaluru’s contribution to education and development.
During his visit in 2017, Dr Singh appreciated the development model adopted by the government of Karnataka, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He said that Karnataka was the first State to implement the Food Security Act enacted by the UPA government.
Dr Singh inaugurated the Kempegowda International Airport in 2008, and flagged off the city’s first metro train from Baiyappanahalli to M.G. Road in 2011.On December 27, 2001, Dr Singh visited the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru to participate in a seminar on ‘Life and Works of Prof. V. K. R. V. Rao’. Being a former Union finance minister, he lauded Prof. Rao’s contributions in various areas of economics, and as an institution builder.In June 2006, Dr Singh laid the foundation stone for the construction of elevated highway connecting Bengaluru city with the Electronic City.
Life and times of Manmohan Singh
source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)