Mysuru:  Assuring the students of setting up Indira Canteen on the Maharani’s College premises, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah said that the Government is for a hunger-free Karnataka.

He was interacting with students after inaugurating the newly-built campus of Maharani’s Commerce and Management College for Women and its hostel on Valmiki Road in Paduvarahalli (Vinayakanagar) here yesterday.

Replying to a request by a student named Spoorthy to provide canteen facility, Siddharamaiah announced that subsidised Indira Canteens would be established on both the premises — one at the new college and the other at existing college premises.

When another student K.B. Pallavi told him that though Maharani’s Arts and Science College is century old, it has no proper hall to conduct programmes, the CM said that Maharani’s Centenary Hall will be constructed on the College premises. The foundation stone for the hall will be laid in February during the centenary celebration of the college, he said and added that he will attend the programme.

Pavithra, a B.Com student asked the CM about his secret of remembering Kannada grammar he studied during his school days, he said it all depends on memory power and interest.

“My memory power is good and thus, I remember grammar,” he said. Pointing out that students should imbibe values to play an active role in building a harmonious society, Siddharamaiah said his Government is imparting quality and free education to the poor and the needy on par with private educational institutions.

Maintaining that the State Government is keen as promoting higher education, he said that more and more youths should go for higher education.

Replying to a request by a student to set up a competitive exam training centre at the premises, the CM said such centres would be set up.

Listing out his Government’s achievements, Siddharamaiah said 1.8 lakh computer laptops would be distributed to students across the State and over 1,000 laptops had been distributed to Maharani’s students here.

Observing that the percentage of higher education enrolment of women had to improve, the CM said free distribution of laptops to degree students is one such step to take up higher studies.

Highlighting the Right To Education (RTE) Act introduced by the UPA Government, Siddharamaiah said that the State Government was committed to provide quality education for people from all classes.

Lauding the contributions of the erstwhile Mysuru Maharajas to the field of education, the CM said that the Maharajas made Mysuru proud by establishing Maharani’s College for women’s education.

Appreciating Chamaraja MLA Vasu for taking initiatives to develop the new Maharani’s College, the CM called upon the students to make best use of all the available opportunities.

MLA Vasu, in his address, said that Maharani Kempananjammani established Maharani’s College in 1902 and her foresight continued to have an impact on the lives of students even after 115 years. Even as the CM inaugurated the new college, the students of Maharani’s College shared a lighter moment with him and vied with each other in taking selfies with the CM.

The CM also laid the foundation stone for the second stage of the College and hostel building, which are estimated to cost Rs.23.63 crore and Rs.20 crore respectively.

Foundation stone was also laid for the construction of hostel building for the students of Maharani’s Arts College in the premises of Nanjaraja Bahadur Choultry on Vinoba Road at a cost of Rs.46 crore.