MADIKERI: The State Government, it is learnt, has given Rs. 191.78 crores to the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat over the past five years. Of this, Rs. 191.75 crores has been spent under 22 heads by departments coming under the zilla panchayat.

The bulk of the allocation, of course, has gone to the Education Department. Of the Rs. 45.10 crores allocated to the department in the past five years, Rs. 44.13 crores has been spent. Medical services and public health takes the next place for which a sum of Rs. 26 crores was allocated and Rs. 23.53 crores utilised. Drinking water and rural sanitation was given Rs. 17.13 crores and Rs. 17.14 crores was spent.

Rural employment did not get any allocation in 2000-01 but in the past four years it has received Rs. 16.52 crores. However, the total expenditure under this head totals Rs. 19.51 crores, thanks to the rural employment drive taken up by the zilla panchayat. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department was provided Rs. 13.97 crores of which Rs. 12.95 crores was spent.

Public works

Public works, which was expected to get a higher allocation, received little above Rs. 4 crores in the past five years. The total expenditure under this head since 2000-01 exceeds the allotted funds.

The grant for roads and bridges has come down over the period. While it was Rs. 1.67 crore during 2000-01, it came down to Rs. 1.17 crore during 2004-05. The allocation for the Department of Youth Services and Sports has also been poor. During 2000-01 it received Rs. 29.16 lakhs and Rs. 16.95 lakhs was spent. During 2004-05, it received Rs. 33.38 lakhs of which Rs. 27.25 lakhs was utilised.

Irrigation

Small irrigation sector has also seen a dip in allocation as it received Rs. 2.82 crores in the past five years. For village and cottage industries a sum of Rs. 2.43 crores was granted of which Rs. 1.93 crore was spent. Non-conventional energy received the lowest allocation of Rs. 83.11 lakhs in the past five years, though expenditure crossed Rs. 1.01 crore.

On a whole, grants allocated to Kodagu has come down in the past five years. For instance, while Rs. 15.37 crores was allocated for education during 2000-01, it came down to Rs. 7.23 crores during 2004-05.

It is said that funds are being granted to districts based on their population rather than development needs. But it is also argued that the earmarked funds have been underutilised by the zilla panchayat. This may be because of shortage of staff and inability to take up works during the monsoon.

A proposal was mooted by some members of the zilla panchayat to extend the financial year in Kodagu. They had noted that the monsoon begins in June and continues for over six months, rendering it difficult to carry out public works. In effect, works can begin only in December/January but the funds should be used before March 31.

But nothing has come of their demand.

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