Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared on Saturday in Belagavi that ensuring education for every individual in society is a fundamental goal. He highlighted the various initiatives and schemes the State government is actively implementing to guarantee universally accessible education.
The Chief Minister’s remarks came during the groundbreaking ceremony for several new buildings at Rani Channamma University’s campus in Hire Bagewadi, under the PM-Usha (MERU) Scheme.
Siddaramaiah articulated that his government draws inspiration from profound thinkers such as the Buddha, Basavanna, Mahatma Gandhi, and B.R. Ambedkar. He explained, “These leaders believed in equality and the creation of equal opportunities for all. They understood that true freedom encompasses economic and social liberation and equality. Our vision is to ensure that women, the underprivileged, minorities, and backward classes have access to higher education, as learning is essential for everyone. By leveraging education as a catalyst for change, we can effectively eradicate poverty and unemployment from society.”
He further urged citizens to recognize that education is a powerful tool and to fully utilize the numerous welfare programs the government has introduced.
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi affirmed the government’s dedication to the advancement of Rani Channamma University. He noted that, in addition to the new buildings, his department is constructing a 10 crore rupee road to connect the new campus to National Highway 4.
Minister Lakshmi R. Hebbalkar announced that the State Cabinet has approved a crucial drinking water project for the university and expressed hope that the Chief Minister would soon inaugurate the completed new campus.
Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar provided an update, stating that the new campus, a project worth 116 crore rupees, is nearing completion. He also mentioned that the Union government has allocated special grants of 100 crore rupees to Bengaluru University and Rani Channamma University, along with 20 crore rupees to six other state universities. This new infrastructure and enhanced facilities will enable Rani Channamma University to introduce new courses, with a particular focus on technical education.
The event was also attended by Vice-Chancellor C.M. Tyagaraja and Registrar Santosh Kamagouda, among other dignitaries.