Did you know that there is a list of firsts in Karnataka? In this article, we discuss the government programs or schemes that are a first in the state. Karnataka is recognized as one of the most developed states in India. The state’s march to progress is fuelled by effective government programmes and schemes launched with the same aim in mind.
Since 2013, the state administration has been making efforts to materialize an inspiring vision of growth and welfare for Karnataka and its people. This vision focuses on making Karnataka the number one state in the country by further developing it as an investment and business-friendly state and improving overall infrastructure of the state and the capital city of Bangalore.
The Congress government under the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah has succeeded to come up with many ‘first’ schemes and policies that are helping to develop a New Karnataka. These initiatives are spread across a variety of sectors, from agriculture to IT and beyond, and are contributing to the state’s model of development in a big way. Let’s take a look at the first of its kind initiative by the government.
A comprehensive list of firsts in Karnataka
Industrial tech park exclusively for women entrepreneurs
The Karnataka government boasts of conceptualizing, designing, and dedicating the park solely to the cause of women entrepreneurs. This is a one-of-its-kind initiative undertaken to encourage women to walk the path of entrepreneurship with more confidence. Further, the state government has seen to it that 20 % of seats spread over 4 incubators are reserved for women. A fund of INR 10 crore was also launched for the women entrepreneurs.
Comprehensive healthcare scheme
This tops in the list of firsts in Karnataka. The government’s vision of progress includes making Karnataka a progressive state of healthy people with ample medical care facilities. With this objective in mind, the state government has announced its flagship health policy named Arogya Bhagya Scheme. It is a comprehensive health coverage scheme meant to provide medical support to 1.4 crore families in Karnataka. The scheme also includes free of cost health benefit facilities for priority households. Karnataka is the first state in the country to announce such a policy.
Bringing agro market trading online
The agro market in Karnataka received a huge leverage due to the use of technology to usher it forward in the online trading world. Karnataka is the first state in India to adopt the initiative of online trading in agriculture markets. This policy has helped farmers to sell their productions online at their chosen price. The result was that the farmers drew in 38 % more income through this initiative.
Manufacturing zones for Electric Vehicles
The Karnataka development initiative includes the vision to make the state a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EVs). The Electric vehicles and Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) is a big step to propel the Make in Karnataka policy. The initiative plans to establish new EV Manufacturing Zones that will involve investments to the tune of Rs 31,000 crores. The policy also aims to come up with charging stations in private and public spaces.
Undisputed position in IT exports
Known as the IT hub of India the state houses more than 3500 IT companies. Globally, Karnataka also occupies the position of the fourth largest tech cluster. The state reached an export value of INR 3 lakh crore in 2017. This was 38 % of the total export value of India in the IT sector. As such, Karnataka’s dominance as the undisputed leader in IT exports continues.
Start-up initiative for multi-sector
One of the best things that feature on the list of firsts in Karnataka is its start-up friendliness. Karnataka is known as the hub for enterprise and innovation. Leading forward this legacy is the state government’s ambitious Multi-Sector Start-Up Policy. This policy aims to help develop and flourish more than 20,000 technology-oriented start-ups by 2020. This is a pioneering initiative. The initiative will lead to strategic investment and create job opportunities for about 1.8 million people.
The highest rank in investment intentions
Karnataka’s dominance as an investment hub continues for the second consecutive year. The state has once more attained the top rank in investment intentions in the country. With investment intentions of INR 1.47 lakh crore for the months of Jan-Sept 2017, the state has accounted for 44 % of the total investment intentions in India. An effective administration, innovative policies, and a conducive ecosystem have helped the state to attain this position.
Biotech policy of Karnataka for 2017-22
The Biotech industry in Karnataka is one of the flourishing ones. Having more than 65 Biotech Start-Ups and 228 Biotech companies the state helps to generate about 35 % of the country’s revenue in the biotech sector. To strengthen this sector even further and improve the state’s contribution to the 100 billion dollar biotech industry in India, the state government has sanctioned the Karnataka Biotech Policy 2017-22.
Attaining manufacturing excellence
Karnataka is way ahead of other states in the country in terms of manufacturing excellence. The state boasts of a manufacturing process ratio at 2.63, which is the best. Karnataka has got 10 % of the country’s total investment in the manufacturing sector. Also, Karnataka attracts 32 % of the investment shares in the manufacturing sector.
The list of firsts in Karnataka is set to grow in the future making the state one of the fastest growing one.