Nanjundappa report on regional imbalance is being reassessed, says Govinda Rao

State-level committee led by M. Govinda Rao to review and recommend new guidelines for regional development based on human development indices.

Chairman of the State-level Regional Imbalance Redressal Committee M. Govinda Rao has said that there is a need to review the recommendations of the earlier committee led by D.M. Nanjundappa keeping in mind the changes over the years and come up with new guidelines or recommendations based on the current human development indices.

Chairing a meeting of officials and various stakeholders in Dharwad on Monday, he said that up to 40-50 indicators based on human development index have been drawn up and based on these, the committee will conduct a detailed study and recommend necessary steps to the State government.

He said that the recommendations will also include establishing new infrastructure in backward and most backward taluks and they will be submitted in October this year.

“The Nanjundappa report was submitted in 2002 based on 35 indices. He classified taluks as most backward and backward. He recommended an expenditure of ₹31,000 crore on infrastructure and other things, apart from the routine expenditure approved in the State Budget. Various provisions were made to spend this amount in different areas. We need to see to what extent these initiatives have been successful and then, suggest remedies,” he said.

Committee member-secretary and Finance Planning Secretary R. Vishal said that the committee is focusing on income, education and health. The committee has toured 26 districts and has gathered suggestions from stakeholders.

He said that the Health Department and the stakeholders have asked for setting up a regional cancer centre at KMC-RI as people from seven districts are dependent on it.

“This apart, there is a need for a nephrology centre and also a dedicated institute for child health. There is also a demand for setting up food processing units in the region,” he said.