BANGALORE: The second expansion of the coalition Ministry in the State will take place on April 10 or 11, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa have said.

The first expansion of the Ministry took place on February 17 when 20 Ministers were sworn in.

Mr. Yediyurappa told presspersons here on Friday that a list of candidates to be inducted into the Ministry from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) is ready. A final decision on the expansion will be taken in consultation with Mr. Kumaraswamy.

Speaking to presspersons later, the Chief Minister said the Ministry will be expanded in the next 10 days.

Asked whether the Government is thinking of enacting a law on office of profit, Mr. Kumaraswamy said no such proposal has been thought of so far. If the Centre were to adopt such a legislation, the State will follow it, he said.

Mr. Yediyurappa said the Bhagya Lakshmi scheme announced by the Government to provide security to girl children born in families below the poverty line will come into effect from Saturday (April 1) and is expected to cover 4.80 lakh children annually.

Under the scheme, a girl born in a family living below the poverty line will have Rs. 10,000 deposited in a bank in her name. After she turns 18, she can withdraw the amount with interest.

Mr. Yediyurappa held a meeting with officials on Friday and said the scheme is expected to cost the Government Rs. 234 crore annually. There are 63 lakh families living below the poverty line in the State. The scheme, which is the first of its kind in the country, will give financial protection to the girl child, he said.

Anganwadi assistants have been asked to identify those eligible for the scheme. The Chief Minister and he will meet parents of the first Bhagya Lakshmi girl and hand over Rs. 10,000. The Government is also planning a health insurance scheme for children, he said.

The Finance Department will assess the use of funds by each department once in three months. The schemes announced in the budget must reach the needy, he said.

NGEF revival package

The Government has decided to submit to the Karnataka High Court a comprehensive package for the revival of the New Government Electric Factory (NGEF).

The State has entrusted the job of working out a revival package for the once prestigious industry to a group of experts. The package will be submitted to the court when the case comes up for hearing next week, he said.

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