"Ensure atleast 80 p c benefit reaches the needy":Kumaraswamy

Bangalore, May 4 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today strongly urged the State Machinery to ensure that atleast a minimum of 80 per cent of the funds earmarked for welfare of the society reaches its beneficiaries.

Speaking after inaugurating a Two-day Seminar on " 11th Five Year Plan of Karnataka-Perspective" jointly organised by the Karnataka State Planning Board and the Institute of Social and Economic Change here, he alleged that there exists a big gap between the achievement and the money spent.

Stating that the JD(S)-BJPa coalition government has accorded priority for removing regional imbalance and provide better water resource management, rural development, education, health and infrastructure development, Mr Kumaraswamy said that the money earmarked for the targeted sector should be utilised properly.

He said that 'Suvarna Gramodaya' scheme was launched at a cost of Rs 1000 Crore with an intention to take up developmental works in the selected 1000 villages. The funds earmarked for the scheme should be spent judiciously and create public assets at the targetted villages. "If 80 per cent of the funds allocated for the purpose utilised properly a great deal of development can be witnessed" he added.

Mr Kumaraswamy said that the broad goals of the 11th five year plan of Karnataka were to reduce poverty by 10 per cent, raise agricultural growth rate to 4 per cent, accelerate industrial development and improve the development indicators to acceptable levels.

Expressing concern that even though state had invested heavily for the irrigation sector there exists a considerable gap between the potential created and utilized. The physical progress achieved during 10th plan was less than 50 per cent of the target both in creation and utilizastion of potential and urged the planners to take it seriously. The state has allocated over 23 per cent of its plan outlay for irrigation for 2007-08 and needs special attention to reach its target.

Deputy Chairman State Planning Board Dr A Ravindra, who also spoke on the occasion said that State was on the process of giving shape to the 11th Plan and the Seminar was aimed at receiving constructive suggestions from the experts, academicians, industrialists and stakeholders. He said that draft plan was aimed to give focus on Agricultural and Water Management, tackling regional imbalance, industry and infrastructure and work out implementing strategies. Experts from various fields have been invited to deliver lecture and give valuable inputs which helps to finalise the 11th five year plan draft for the state, he added.

UNI