Bangalore: Offering a bouquet of welfare programmes to woo urban and rural electorate, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna today (Feb 5, 2004) announced a Rs 600 crore irrigation pumpset dues waiver to farmers, completion of 11 lakh houses to ensure shelter for all and establishment of a Stree Shakti Grameena Bank while presenting the 2004-05 Budget proposals sans any fresh taxation effort.

In his fifth and final election year Budget, Krishna also announced establishment of two corporations - Karnataka Krushi Abhivruddhi Nigama to implement a State-wide drought-proofing action plan and Karnataka Minor Irrigation Corporation, a special-purpose vehicle to benefit small and marginal farmers.

Both the initiatives have been provided with Rs 100 crore Budgetary support, he said while presenting a tax-free Budget that envisaged an overall deficit of Rs 153.26 crore, which Krishna hoped to cover through expenditure control and tax buoyancy.

In an apparent attempt to appease the poorer section, Krishna announced extension of the "Akshara Dasoha" mid-day meal scheme to students studying upto VII standard from the existing level of V standard incurring an additional expenditure of Rs 100 crore.

Sharing his Government's vision for the State's development in the coming years, he said it would provide rural citizens a motorable road connectivity, assured transport services, weather-proof house, a pollution-free health, power supply and other facilities.

Krishna sought a vote-on-account for four months ending July 31, 2004.