BIDAR: Suvarna Gramodaya, the State Government's programme for comprehensive rural development, is under way. But a look at the allocations for various districts reveals that the Government seems to be continuing to neglect the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

The programme aims at developing infrastructure in villages comprising around 700 to 1,000 people each, and the Government plans to spend Rs. 1 crore on building roads, bridges, drains and rainwater harvesting structures, constructing pre-schools and training youth in self-employment. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had promised to release Rs. 1,012 crore for 1,012 villages in the first phase. However, the Government has so far sanctioned only Rs. 164.7 crore.

Allocation to region

What is more, it has not sanctioned any funds under the programme for Bidar, which is one of the most backward districts in the State, while Rs. 20 crore has been sanctioned for the three other districts of Hyderabad Karnataka: Gulbarga, Raichur and Koppal. These districts are also considered to be equally backward, according to the report of the High Power Committee for the Redressal of Regional Imbalances.

The 11 districts of south Karnataka have got the largest allocation of Rs. 75.5 crore. This is followed by Rs 40.25 crore for the seven north Karnataka districts, Rs. 15.6 crore for the three coastal districts and Rs. 9.9 crore for Davangere and Chitradurga, which lie in the middle of the State. According to Government sources, the grants have been allocated so as to maintain an average of Rs. 6.3 crore for each district.

It is a matter of concern that relatively developed districts such as Hassan, Mandya, Tumkur, Belgaum, Kolar and Bangalore Rural have been allocated nearly Rs. 10 crore each, while undeveloped districts such as Koppal, Raichur, Bidar, Bellary and Chamrajnagar have got less funds. Koppal has got Rs. 3.75 crore, Raichur Rs. 6.9 crore, Bellary Rs. 4.8 crore and Bidar none.

Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur, who is in charge of the district, has promised to bring the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister and to seek to ensure that not only did Bidar get sufficient funds under the scheme but also that more funds were allocated for the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

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