Halappa Achar

Halappa Achar was born on 1 December 1952 to Shri Basappa Shivappa Achar and Smt. Gauramma Basappa Achar.^{[citation needed]} He graduated with a BSc and chose to pursue agriculture, becoming an exceptional farmer.^{[citation needed]} With 12 acres of farmland, his efforts to bring borewell water from 4–5 kilometers (2.5–3.1 miles) away won accolades from the farming community.^{[citation needed]} He received the Best Farmer award from the then Union Minister for Agriculture, Shri Balram Jakhar, for his grape crops. He continued farming for 10 years and became a role model farmer in his taluk. He is married to Smt. Ratnamma.^{[citation needed]}

He was elected as Director of Masaba Hanchinal Cooperative Bank in 1976. He entered politics by becoming Vice-Chairman of TAPCMS in Yelburga in 1978. He is known for revamping taluk-level cooperative societies.^{[citation needed]}

Halappa Achar took over as Director of RDCC Bank in 1988-89, rescuing it from near bankruptcy. Recognizing his efforts in resurrecting the bank, the Karnataka government, led by then-CM HD Kumaraswamy, honored him with the 'Sahakara Ratna' award.^[4]

He was elected as an MLC in 2010 by contesting from local bodies on a BJP ticket and emerged victorious with the highest margin of 400 votes in total, representing Raichur and Koppal districts for 6 years.^{[citation needed]}

He successfully utilized his MLCLAD funds to implement minor irrigation projects in his constituency. Later, in 2013, he succeeded in securing a sanction of Rs. 1,000 crore for the Yelburga Bevuru irrigation project from the then Chief Minister, Shri Jagadeesh Shetter.^{[citation needed]}

When he took over as President of the Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Federation in 2011, the institution was facing bankruptcy and owed Rs. 36 crore to the government. Halappa Achar revived the institution and continued as President of the board for seven years. Under his leadership, the institution repaid all its outstanding debts and became independent, achieving a profit of Rs. 35 crore by the end of his tenure.^{[citation needed]}

With his experience in the field, he served as Director of IFFCO and Apex Bank for 10 years. He was also President of the Hampi Foundation Authority Trust from 2012-13 to 2014-15.^{[citation needed]}

He has been arranging free coaching in Kuknoor, Hirevankalakunta, and Masaba Hanchinal for poor children to prepare them for Navodaya, Sainik School, Kittur Rani Chennamma School, and various other entrance exams. He continues to motivate young students in the field of education, emphasizing and supporting their efforts.^{[citation needed]}

At his own expense, Halappa Achar has rejuvenated lakes such as Karamudi, Mandalagiri, Mandalamari, Linganabandi, and various others in his constituency.

This has benefited thousands of families, helping various farmers and residents throughout the region.^{[citation needed]}

With the support of all the directors of RDCC Bank, Apex Bank, and Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Board, he has been known for conducting transparent recruitment of staff for these institutions based on merit.^{[citation needed]}

In the 2018 election, he defeated former Congress minister Basavaraj Rayareddy by 13,000 votes, marking his debut appearance in the Assembly.^[5]

He has succeeded in securing a sanction of Rs. 1,729 crore for the 3rd phase of the Koppal irrigation project.

As Minister for Women and Child welfare, he worked closely with researchers at the Edward & Cynthia Institute of Public Health to implement the End Malnutrition Initiative in his constituency.^[6][7]