Udupi, (TOI): Ivan D'Souza, MLC and vice-president of the Christian Development Council, said he will put forth a demand before the state government to upgrade the council into a corporation and allot Rs 300 crore for the welfare of Christians in the upcoming budget.

Speaking to reporters at Udupi bishop's house here, the MLC said that the council is working for the betterment of all minority communities in the state including Christians who constitute four percent of state's population. "In the last budget, the CM had allocated Rs 125 crore for the council and we are now demanding Rs 300 crore,'' he added.

Among others, he demanded financial assistance for Christians who want to go to Jerusalem on pilgrimage, a hostel for working women of the community, separate colonies for community wherever it has strong presence, Christian Bhavans in all districts and training and placement centres for the community.

He said though the state government has rolled out many welfare schemes for the community, lack of awareness has resulted in very less number of Christians making use of these schemes.

To a question, he said the state government decided to scrap the steel bridge project owing to public demand and not because of opposition's onslaught or corruption charges. "The BJP does not believe in development and its leaders have always been misleading people,'' he said.