District HDRs to be basis for future planning: CM

Reports of five more districts to be released in next phase

Speaking after launching the DHDR of Bijapur, Gulbarga, Mysore and Udupi districts, Yeddyurappa said the indices and recommendations in the reports would help on mainstreaming human development in policy formulation, financing of human development and strengthening statistical systems.

The reports have been brought out under the Government of India-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assisted project of Strengthening State Plans for Human Development (SSPHD).

Yeddyurappa said the State Government would fund preparation of DHDRs for five more districts including Raichur, Davangere, Bidar, Chitradurga and Chamarajanagar in the next phase.  The other districts will be covered by the end of the XI plan, he added.

Patrice Coeur-Bizot, UNDP India Resident Representative said DHDRs would serve as a platform for decentralised planning and also provide “actionable agenda” options for elected representatives and officials to take forward.

Highlights of the various DHDRs launched on Monday are:

Bijapur

*There is a need for making the district more gender-sensitive as gender disparities are more pronounced in the district than at the State level

*Work participation in the district has shown a decline from 41 per cent in 1991 to 39 per cent in 2001

*There has been a virtual stagnation of district literacy rate. Three taluks have experienced decline in literacy between 1991 and 2001. No other district in the State is facing this kind of problem.

Gulbarga

*Literacy is a gray area that needs urgent attention, and needs to be increased through enhancing enrollment, retention and provision of quality education

*Immunisation coverage needs to be increased and health services need to be improved.

*Promotion of self-help groups, user associations and civil society organisations needed to promote empowerment of the poor and marginalised groups

Mysore

*The district has not been able to transform its increased income into better life for people

*Gender inequalities in development are more pronounced at the taluk-level

*Poverty reduction strategies, especially self-employment for men and women who are technically competent and alternative livelihood for those in the villages and small towns need to be encouraged.

Udupi

*The district has performed exceptionally well in education due to the efforts of private initiative, but rural schools need to be given required infrastructure

*Elimination of disparities in poverty and deprivation in all dimensions required

*Universalisation of secondary education, enhancing quality and functional orientation of education system needed

* SHG movement needs to be strengthened for empowering women and sustainable and eco-friendly development of marginalised communities.