K'taka Finance Commission to submit final report in December

Udupi, Karnataka, May 17 (UNI) The third Karnataka State Finance Commission will submit its final report to the State Government by December, Commission Chairman A G Kodgi said today.

Talking to newspersons here, he said that though the period was limited before the Commission in view of the delay in the commencement of its functioning, the report would be submitted within the scheduled time.

The Commission had toured seven districts in the State to study the main issues and ways to mobilise resources by Panchayats and local bodies and the quantum of distribution of Government grants to Gram Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats, he said, adding that the Commission had to study every aspect of the local bodies before submitting its recommendations for implementation.

Mr Kodgi said that during his tour of various districts, he came across complaints of shortage of resources, staff and in some cases misuse of funds by the Gram Panchayats. In the case of Taluk and Zilla Panchayats, the members complained that the powers of the Panchayati Raj institutions were being curtailed much against the basic objectives of decentralisation of power. They also lamented that there was a drastic cut in Government grants to Panchayati Raj institutions. Members of the Zilla Panchayats demanded sanctioning of a separate area development fund on the lines of the MPs and MLAs Development Fund.

He felt the need to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system for effective functioning and rural development. This required proper flow of funds, resource mobilisation by the institutions and responsibility.

UNI