Min pushes for cess on petrol, diesel for labourers' welfare

Minister highlights state's highest per capita income, second in GST collection

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Chamarajanagar

LABOUR Minister Santhosh Lad on Wednesday said the governance model of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should be implemented across all states for the overall development of the country.

Speaking after launching the distribution of smart cards to registered unorganised sector workers under various welfare schemes at Kalamandira, Lad said: "In Mysuru district alone, women have availed 30 crore free trips under the Shakti Yojane scheme using KSRTC buses. The state government has spent nearly ₹4,000 crore on welfare schemes for the poor in Mysuru. Yet, the BJP claimed the Congress government would not be able to implement all five guarantee schemes. Siddaramaiah, who has successfully presented 15 state budgets, has steered Karnataka towards inclusive growth. On the other hand, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasts of a $5 trillion economy, India still lags behind the US, Japan, and China and even small countries in terms of per capita income."