Karnataka Budget: Govt to leverage gram panchayat properties for income generation

Hubballi: Amid allegations that several women representatives lack the administrative knowledge and their family members take actual decisions in rural local bodies which have 50 per cent women representatives, the state budget, presented on Friday, has announced 'Adhikara-Sakara' capacity-building programme for elected women representatives in Gram Panchayat-level Arivu Kendras.

The budget proposals also include constitutional literacy programme for women and children, financial literacy for women, and 'Chiguru' programme for science, arts, literature and vocational guidance.

CM Siddaramaiah also announced a 'Gram Panchayat Adoption' programme for the overall development of Gram Panchayats through adoption by senior officers. E-Swathu campaign, extension of Panchatantra software to Zilla and Taluk Panchayats, and using it to monitor decentralised digital libraries and solid waste management through self-help groups (SHGs) are other announcements.

Leveraging the properties of the gram panchayats for income generation through PPP mode is also on the cards.

To reduce financial electricity bill cost on GPs, solar micro-grids on PPP model will be established. Leveraging properties of GPs for income generation on PPP mode, and GIS-based mobile and web application for rural water supply infrastructure management are also proposed.

Stating that for Jal Jeevan Mission to provide tapped drinking water to rural households, Union government and State government have so far released Rs 11,787 crore and Rs 20,703 crore respectively, Siddaramaiah said the Centre has released Rs 571 crore out of Rs 3,800 crore allocated for 2024-25.

For speedy implementation of the scheme and anticipating grants by the Centre, the state government has released Rs 8,400 crore in advance, and it will provide Rs 6,050 core for the scheme in 2025-26.

'Pragati Patha' externally aided scheme announced last year for improving rural road connectivity (Rs 5,200 crore) will be implemented from 2025-26. The 286 works under 'Kalyana Patha' scheme for 38 constituencies of Karnayana Karnataka region at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore will be completed at the earliest, he said.

Under MGNREGS, grey water management units are proposed to be established at 500 villages. Spice and fruit crops will be grown on 5,000 acres of land as a mixed crop system in partnership with rural SHGs.

‘Hasiru Pathas’ will be formed by planting saplings alongside 5,000 km of state and district roads passing through rural areas. 'Krishi Patha' scheme will be implemented to develop roads connecting farmers' fields in a phased manner. Under 'Krishi Kavacha' initiative for groundwater recharge and soil conservation, bunds will be constructed across 5,000 hectares of farmland, the budget said.