Oppn in K'taka charges Govt with slackness in tackling AIDS

Bangalore, Mar 22 (UNI) The Opposition parties in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly today took the Government to task, charging it with spending only 20 per cent of the funds allocated for tackling the growing menace of AIDS in the State.

Congress member Sharan Prakash Rudrappa Patil, during question hour, alleged that the Centre had written to the State about its ''ineffective'' way of tackling the deadly disease. Of the 27 districts, 19 had high prevalence of AIDS patients, he pointed out.

Health and Family Welfare Minister R Ashok, in his reply, said the Government had spent Rs eight crore and would spend the remaining funds soon. He clarified that the Centre had written to the State with regard to frequent changing of the top officials and not about controlling the disease, as alleged by the member.

UNI