Bengaluru, Mar 7 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears to be drawing inspiration former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s governance model, as reflected in the state budget for 2025 presented on Friday.
The budget, which emphasises welfare measures, particularly for religious and minority communities, mirrors Kejriwal’s recent decision to provide temple priests and gurdwara granthis in Delhi with an honorarium of Rs 18,000 per month.
One of the major announcements in Siddaramaiah’s budget is a salary hike for temple priests, with their annual remuneration rising from Rs 60,000 to Rs 72,000. In a move aimed at improving pilgrimage arrangements, the government will introduce a centralised booking system for accommodation at temples across the state, he said.
Honorariums for religious leaders across different faiths have also been revised. Jain priests, Chief Grantis of Sikh temples, and Pesh-Imams of mosques will now receive Rs 6,000 per month, while Assistant Grantis and Muezzins will receive Rs 5,000 per month.
Additionally, Rs 150 crore has been earmarked for the maintenance and upkeep of Waqf properties and Muslim graveyards, ensuring better facilities and preservation of these sites.
Siddaramaiah’s budget has made provisions for the holistic development of various religious communities, allocating Rs 100 crore each for the Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. The Christian community will receive Rs 250 crore for its development projects.
The Buddhist community will see a major boost in education and research, with plans for a new Buddhist Study Academy in Bengaluru. Furthermore, the historic Mahabodhi Library, which is over a century old, will be digitalised and upgraded at a cost of Rs 1 crore. A Buddhist School of Studies will also be established in the city to promote academic research on Buddhism.
Under the Chief Minister’s Minority Colony Development Programme, the government has formulated an action plan worth Rs 1,000 crore, with key infrastructure projects set to be implemented in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The budget also introduces a 50% fee reimbursement scheme for minority students securing admission into professional courses through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), with financial assistance capped at Rs 5 lakh.
With these extensive welfare measures, Siddaramaiah’s budget signals a strong focus on grants and subsidies for religious and minority communities, reinforcing a governance style that draws clear parallels with Kejriwal’s approach in Delhi.
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