Karnataka

Five BRDF districts to get Rs. 103 crore

GULBARGA: The Union Government has selected five districts, Bidar, Gulbarga, Chitradurga, Davangere and Raichur, in the State for the implementation of the Backward Region Development Fund (BRDF) and has allocated Rs. 103.45 crore for these districts this year.

The BRDF, which would be in force for five years, intends to provide support for the development of soft skills and infrastructure development. It also envisages freedom for elected representatives and officials to chalk out development programmes and implement them.

The funds allocated under the BRDF would not lapse at the end of the financial year and the districts have the freedom to spend the amount allocated to them within the stipulated period or extend it.

Originally, the BRDF was supposed to replace the Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojna (RSVY) which was implemented in some select districts in the State.

However, the Union Government decided to continue the RSVY and the BRDF and provide funds for the two programmes.

The District Planning Committee (DPC), the highest decision-making body for development programmes at the district level, on Tuesday gave its approval for the Rs. 28.25-crore action plan under the BRDF for Gulbarga district for this year.

One of the features of the BRDF is the active involvement of the panchayati raj institutions. The BRDF also includes planning at the grassroots.

Briefing members of the District Planning Committee about the features of the BRDF, Assistant Commissioner of Gulbarga Division D. Ranadeep said that the action plan submitted at the meeting would have to be placed before the State-level coordination committee meeting scheduled in Bangalore on Saturday.

After getting formal approval from the State-level coordination committee, the proposal would be sent to the Union Government for the release of allocated funds to the districts.

Mr. Ranadeep said that 43 per cent of the allocated funds under the BRDF would go to gram panchayats, 24 per cent to taluk panchayats. The zilla panchayat and urban local bodies would get 14 per cent each. As much as 5 per cent of the funds have been kept as district general allocation.

As per this allocation, 337 gram panchayats in the district would get Rs. 12.15 crore. A sum of Rs. 6.78 crore will go to 10 taluk panchayats, while Rs. 3.95 crore has been earmarked for the zilla panchayat. A sum of Rs. 3.95 lakh will be given to the 13 urban local bodies.

As per the draft action plan of the funds provided to the taluk and zilla panchayats approved by the District Planning Committee, Rs. 3.22 crore would be spent on skill development and knowledge improvement, while an equal amount would be spent on service sector.

A sum of Rs. 3.22 crore will be spent on infrastructure and basic facilities and Rs. 1.07 crore will be spent on supervision and implementation of the scheme.

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