NK districts continue to be in list of backward districts :Arvind Bellad

Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Arvind Bellad has said that despite claims of redressing the regional imbalance by successive governments, the districts of North Karnataka continue to remain in the list of most backward districts in the State.

Participating in the Special Discussion on burning problems of North Karnataka in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Bellad emphasised the need for bringing out a report from the government on the measures taken based on suggestions given by legislators during the legislature session. “Such an exercise will help in looking back and addressing the issues left out”, he said.

Mr. Bellad who relied on mainly on the promises on regional development mentioned in the Congress election manifesto, highlighted the discrepancies in the allocation for North Karnataka and South Karnataka.

Despite catering to more patients with 2,412 beds, Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute (KMC-RI) was being released grants of just ₹24 crore towards medicines and linen against ₹75 crore for Bengaluru Medical College and ₹76 crore for Victoria Hospital, which had lesser number of beds, he said.

Mr. Bellad alleged that no steps were being taken to establish advanced healthcare institutions in the districts of North Karnataka. He pointed out how Lunatic Asylum in Dharwad (now DIMHANS) established two years before the one in Bengaluru (now NIMHANS) during British period was getting just ₹22 crore grants against ₹850 crore of NIMHANS.

He stressed the need for push for industrial development in North Karnataka as several of the projectsn such as FMCG cluster, Special Investment Zone, NS Plug and Play, had not yet materialisted.

Intervening in the debate, Minister for IT, BT Priyank Kharge reiterated the government’s commitment to take industrial development beyond Bengaluru and listed out various measures. He sought the cooperation of Opposition parties in this regard.

Mr. Bellad’s comment on lesser funds for KKRDB, led to ruling party members, including Pryank Kharge, taking exception and pointing out what was done during the Congress regime. Mr. Bellad subsequently listed out various issues to be focused on, including health, industry, education and infrastructure, and urged the government not to give step-motherly treatment towards NK region.