The district committee of Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided to organise a round table conference of all party representatives, legislators and ministers from the district, here on July 1.

The meeting is aimed at  discuss ing the injustice being done to the most backward region of the state in the allotment of funds for redressing regional imbalance.

Members of CPI allege that the government has violated the recommendations of D M Nannjundappa Committee's report on Regional Imbalance, despite accepting the report.

The state government for the first time has made a budgetary allocation of Rs.1571 cr in the current year’s budge for tackling regional imbalance based on the Nanjundappa Committee report.

However, there is a widespread resentment over unscientific release of funds to different regions/districts of the state.

The state government has adopted the formula of releasing 50 per cent of the funds to the most backward region, 30 per cent to more backward and 20 per cent to backward region. But this is not said to be just and equitable.

Speaking to media persons, here on Friday, CPM district committee secretary Maruti Manpade accompanied by Ahind leader B V Chakravarthy stated that the Nanjundappa Committee had recommended the government to release funds based on Composite Development Index (CDI) and Backwardness Index of the region and the districts.

He alleged that the government has violated Nanjunbdappa Committee formula and has evolved its own formula which is very detrimental to the interests of the most backward regions.

According to Manpade, as per the Nanjundappa Formula, Gulbarga Region should get 40 per cent of the funds followed by Bangalore Region-25 per cent; Belgaum Region-20 per cent; and Mysore Region-15 per cent.

As per this formula Gulbarga Region should get Rs.628 cr but the state has allotted only Rs.499 resulting in the shortage of Rs 128 crore. “This should be set right right immediately. Otherwise the legacy would continue for all the eight years and the region will be deprived of Rs 1024 crore’’ Manpade said.

On the contrary, the CPM leader said,  the other three regions which are better placed than Gulbarga Region have received more funds. Bangalore Region has received Rs.62 cr more, while Belgaum Region got Rs.53 cr and Mysore Region-Rs.12 cr funds.

Injustice

Manpade said the injustice done to Gulbarga region has been brought to the notice of the State Planning Board Deputy Chairman A Ravindra. He has promised to look in to it, he added.

He complained that the government was not responding positively despite bringing the matter of injustice to its notice.

Eminent economists Sheshadri, Ezaz Ahmed who were the members of the Nanjundappa Committee and T R Chandrashekhar have already stated that distribution of funds was not proper and had done injustice to the most backward areas.

Meet

Manpade stated that organising a round table meet is aimed at creating an awareness and moulding an opinion.
Efforts will be made to invite the two ministers from the district, so that they can take up the matter with the chief minister and the deputy chief minister.

After the round table meet, a memorandum will be submitted to the government asking it to change the present pattern of distribution of funds and follow the formula adopted by the Nanjundappa Committee.

 “If the government fails to set right  injustice we will have to think of resorting to agitational methods’’ Manpade cautioned.