Successive governments have grappled with unequal development in the Hyderabad-Karnataka region aka Kalyan Karnataka.
Thousands of weavers from North Karnataka districts took part in a rally against the state government in Belagavi. (File Pic - The South First)
The formation of a committee to re-examine the state’s regional imbalances, like in North Karnataka, was one of the significant developments Karnataka witnessed when the Election Commission of India revealed the dates for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.
A notification forming the committee headed by economic expert Prof M Govinda Rao was issued on 16 March.
Terms of reference and member appointments to the panel would happen only after the election campaign’s model code of conduct is lifted in June.
The notification says the DM Nanjundappa Committee report on the regional imbalances is 22 years old. Based on the available statistical data for 233 taluks, a study on backwardness would be conducted to develop a comprehensive composite development index (CCDI).
Studying the regional imbalance again is not a bad idea, especially the glaring backwardness in North Karnataka, which comprises 14 districts. But the hurried process of setting up the panel is a political calculation.
The pertinent question is: Why has the government not produced a comprehensive report or a white paper explaining the progress made since the Nanjundappa committee submitted its report in 2002?
The committee had identified 39 taluks as ‘Most Backward’, 40 as ‘More Backward’, and 35 as ‘Backward’.
In north Karnataka, 26 taluks fell into the ‘Most Backward’ category, while 13 were in the Old Mysore region.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated on the last day of the winter session in Belagavi on 15 December 2023 that a new high-power committee would be set up to study regional imbalances again in terms of development.
He had declared that the committee would be tasked with submitting its recommendations within six months.
Siddaramaiah stated that, as per the Nanjundappa panel recommendation, the government has spent Rs 31,000 crore on backward taluks over eight years since 2007–08. He pointed out that the 40 taluks finally got the ‘Most Backward’ tag.
However, no one questioned him about the physical progress that had been achieved after spending crores of rupees.
Even after getting a meticulous study done by the Nanjundappa committee, why are we still lamenting about backwardness in several taluks?
Regional imbalances in development are not akin to those in Karnataka. Across India, states have this huge problem due to various factors, including historical, geographical, and lopsided planning and implementation.
The periodic study of development is very essential. But while doing so, governments must remain accountable while spending taxpayers’ money.
In Karnataka, data mining about the progress achieved after implementing the report of the Nanjundappa committee, which was set up during the SM Krishna regime, is a tough challenge. Of course, researchers have presented papers discussing certain aspects.
The Economic Survey reports mention the implementation of the report over a period of time. However, one cannot comprehensively understand the physical progress achieved under the selected 35 indicators.
What is available is not easily understandable for an ordinary reader. Extracting statistical information from the finance department is also a considerable challenge. Information is available in bits and pieces.
Suppose we set aside the constraints of getting the free flow of information for dissemination. In that case, the question arises: why another study to assess the development or disparity?
Undoubtedly, North Karnataka and some taluks in the south have yet to see basic developments. They lag in health, education, road infrastructure, and per capita water supply sectors.
Prompt and time-bound implementation of the report’s recommendations would have brought about a change.
North Karnataka’s six backward districts—Kalaburgi, Bidar, Raichur, Koppal, Yadgir, and Ballari—are part of the erstwhile Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
In 2019, BS Yediyurappa, as chief minister, renamed the region Kalyan Karnataka. However, we are still debating the welfare measures for the region.
After nearly a decade of debate, in 2013, the Hyderabad-Karnataka region got special status by adding Article 371J to the Indian Constitution. This was to help alleviate regional imbalances through various measures.
However, the stark reality is that the Human Development Index Report 2022 for Karnataka has brought the Kalyana Karnataka districts into the low-performing category.
Subsequent governments have been grappling with the problem of unequal development. We also have one more body to assess the situation and take remedial measures.
The Nanjundappa panel used the 1991 census data to study various development factors in 2000.
In 2024, the base could be the 2011 census report or the available data in the 233 taluks, as mentioned in the March 16 circular.
The time-tested method of carrying out the national census in India is once a decade. The pandemic and the coming general elections delayed the census again.
Hopefully, the Govind Rao committee will collate the latest statistical data and information from departments to study the ground realities. There is no point in building narratives based on old data.
The Nanjundappa committee had suggested a year-long special development plan to reduce the then-existing imbalances with the ₹31,000 crore constant prices of 2002–03. The irony is that the implementation began only in 2007.
Dr S Hanagodimath, Assistant Professor at the Dharwad-based Centre for Multi-Disciplinary Development Research, an autonomous body, has extensively researched the regional imbalance plaguing North Karnataka.
He said the methodology adopted by the Nanjundappa panel for identifying backwardness was good. However, the problem has been a lack of effective implementation.
One must factor in inflation while allocating funds. The government spent nearly ₹31,000 crore in the last 22 years. “On average, that’s ₹2,000 crore per year. At the same time, we don’t have details about taluk-wise spending by different departments. We lack transparency in public expenditure,” he says while insisting that the new committee was very much required,” he said.
What is the better method to monitor public spending? Hanagodimath believes the government must set up a data warehouse to coordinate backward areas’ physical and financial growth. The government must implement the programme in a time-bound manner with periodic reviews.
There is no dearth of experts or powerful political panels to oversee the development of backward areas in Karnataka. The Hyderabad-Karnataka Development Board existed even before the Nanjundappa panel. Per the panel report, the Special Development Plan (SDP) has also been there to monitor the funds flow for development in the backward taluks.
Even so, the state continues discussing disparities between North and South Karnataka in 2024. Sadly, not even one taluk in Karnataka has the distinction of being 100 percent literate. It won’t be surprising if the next general census results reveal more information about Internet and mobile usage literacy than standard literacy!
Although the Nanjungappa panel report’s execution undoubtedly has shortcomings, there have also been some encouraging developments in the North Karnataka region. Public initiatives in the region include a Central University, IT parks, six new medical institutions, and high court benches.
Will the government learn from past mistakes and use the financial and personnel resources set aside for the Govinda Rao panel more wisely?
