Karnataka - Bidar   

Centre urged to amend Article 371

BIDAR: Members of Hyderabad Karnataka Jana Vimochana Vedike on Monday urged Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to take the initiative to amend Article 371 of the Constitution to help remove regional imbalances.

In a memorandum addressed to Mr. Patil, the members demanded effective implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the Hyderabad Karnataka region, increase in the number of hostels and allocation of special grants to maintain them, implementation of the Centre’s scheme for redressal of regional imbalances in the region, including Koppal and Bellary districts.

The members said that imbalances in development measures such as health, education, housing, agriculture and employment were clearly visible in the Hyderabad Karnataka region when compared to other districts.

In the memorandum, they said that four Chief Ministers had represented north Karnataka while there had been seven Chief Ministers from the south.

There had been 207 ministers from north Karnataka and 318 from the south. Out of 292 industrial establishments set up in 2002, 81 were in north Karnataka and 211 in the south.

Regarding disbursement of loans through the Karnataka State Financial Corporation (KSFC), 15.33 per cent was for north Karnataka and 84.67 per cent for the southern region of the State.

The members said that the above factors were responsible for the Hyderabad Karnataka region remaining backward. These factors also indicated discrimination, they added.

They alleged that imbalances in development were due to the indifferent attitude of elected representatives. They urged the elected representatives to fight for the rights of the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

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