Grama Swarajya proj to be launched in K'taka soon

Mysore, Oct 26: The Karnataka Government will launch the Rs 600 crore five-year Grama Swarajya project in association with the World Bank from January one next year, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister C M Udasi informed today.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said the project would be implemented in 1,333 gram panchayats in 39 most backward taluks of the State, selected based on the Dr M Nanjundappa report on regional imbalance. While the World Bank provided Rs 540 crore for the project, the rest would be met by the State Government.

Mr Udasi said each gram panchayat would be provided funds in five annual installments of Rs six lakh in the first year, Rs eight lakh in the second year, Rs ten lakh in the third year, Rs eight lakh in the fourth year and Rs six lakh in the fifth year. This was besides the State Government's regular provision of Rs five lakh every year.

The gram panchayats would be graded every year, based on which funds would be released, he added.

He announced that Samarthya Soudha would be constructed in 176 taluks in the State by spending Rs 19 lakhs each to provide training programmes to gram panchayat members. Studios of satellite-based training for gram panchayat members would be taken up at Dharwad, Davanagere, Gulbarga and Bangalore, besides the only one here now.

The Government was considering to increase the term of taluk panchayat president to 30 months from the current 20 months, apart from upgrading the secretary's posts for panchayats, he added.

Earlier, the Minister inaugurated satellite-based training for panchayat members, officials and resource persons at Abdul Nazir Sab State Institute of Rural Development here.

UNI