Activists seek urban employment guarantee scheme using KKRDB funds

…and other cities in search of employment. They stressed the need to give greater priority to improving the human development indicators of the region instead of focusing predominantly on physical infrastructure. “ Most of the KKRDB funds are spent on physical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings. Such works alone cannot improve the living conditions of people in the backward region. Adequate funds should be utilised to address poverty, unemployment, education, healthcare, and other issues that directly contribute to improving human development ,” Ms. Neela said. Pointing to the difficulties faced by people from the region who travel frequently to other parts of the State and the country in search of livelihood, Ms. Neela also sought affordable rail transport…

…budgetary projects in the region through KKRDB allocations. She said the State government should provide funds for such projects from its regular budget, as was done for similar projects in other parts of Karnataka. “ When an infrastructure project is announced for other parts of the State, the government earmarks funds from the regular budget. However, when a similar project is announced for Kalyana Karnataka, KKRDB funds are utilised. This defeats the very purpose of the special grants and will not help address the region’s developmental backwardness ,” she said. The activists welcomed the State government’s decision to reconstitute the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Article 371(J) of the Constitution with Cabinet-rank Ministers. They expressed the hope that the…