3 hours ago
4
Activists and Kannada organisations have demanded the creation of an exclusive Secretariat for the development of North Karnataka and increased decentralisation in routine governance at the State level.
They have demanded that the two Houses of the Legislature adopt a resolution during the Winter Session that is likely to start from December 8, about these issues.
Uttara Karnataka Vikasad Vedike President and Congress leader Ashok Poojary has urged the Chief Minister to announce a Ministry for North-west Karnataka, now called Kittur Karnataka region. This will help coordinate with all departments and ensure special financial grants for the development of the region, he said.
“The State government has set up an exclusive Secretariat for Kalyan Karnataka region, which is a welcome move. But then, Kittur Karnataka is also a backward region and needs special attention. The State government is implementing several Central and State-sponsored development schemes and programmes for the region. However, all the departments are working independently and there is no coordination. A special Secretariat can ensure coordination,” he said.
The vedike has submitted a memorandum to the State government in this regard.
Mr. Poojary urged the State government to declare Belagavi as the second capital of the State and take up extensive decentralisation of various departments.
“Senior officers of the cadre of Secretaries and directors should be posted in Belagavi so that they can take up additional responsibilities and reduce the burden on the Secretariat in Bengaluru,” he said.
Mr. Poojary also demanded the division of Belagavi district into two or more smaller districts for administrative convenience.
The central committee of Kannada organisations has urged the State government to ensure that meaningful debate takes place in the session about the development of North Karnataka.
“Several times in the past, the State Legislature has spent session time discussing issues other than North Karnataka development. That trend should not continue. The Belagavi session should take up a discussion about the problems facing the region, the possible solutions and pending projects and how to resolve the deadlocks,” committee convenor Ashok Chandaragi said.
Kannada activist Mehboob Makandar said that the upcoming session should focus on issues of quality of education in border area schools and colleges and the level of Kannada implementation in government offices in all the border districts.
“Several times when chairpersons schedule a special discussion on North Karnataka issues, legislators waste time on subjects like roads, bridges and irrigation. They are important subjects but more important are livelihood issues of education, health and job creation,” he said.
Legislative Council chairman Basavaraj Horatti announced in Hubballi on Saturday that the winter session is likely to be convened for 10 days from December 8.
Mr. Horatti, however, said that most legislators from North Karnataka districts do not participate actively in development-related discussions.
“However, this time, we will try to encourage more legislators, from both the South and North, to participate actively,” he said.
English (US) ·