Karnataka - Bangalore   

17 ULBs fail to utilise funds

BANGALORE: Though the State Government claims that it is committed to the welfare of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs), it seems to have done little by way of ensuring the utilisation of funds for implementation of schemes meant for them during the current financial year (2007-08).

In the first nine months of the financial year, 17 urban local bodies have reported zero utilisation of funds and 18 reported less than 10 per cent, and 125 recorded below 50 per cent utilisation of funds earmarked for schemes for the welfare of the SCs and the STs. Four urban local bodies are yet to submit their action plans for 2007-08 to the deputy commissioners concerned, according to sources.

The Urban Development Department has set aside Rs. 36.92 crore, 18 per cent of its budget, for implementation of various schemes for the welfare of the SCs and the STs for the current financial year.

A sum of Rs. 2,814.67 crore has been earmarked in the State Budget for the Special Component Plan to undertake schemes for the welfare of the SCs, STs and the poor.

Of the Rs. 36.92 crore earmarked by the Urban Development Department, it has to provide 40 per cent each for education and economic development programmes and 20 per cent for other programmes for the welfare of the SCs and the STs. According to the 2001 Census, the State has 8.56 million SCs and 34.64 lakh STs. All the 218 urban local bodies have to prepare action plans to be approved by the deputy commissioners in consultation with the Social Welfare Department at the district level. A government circular of June 25, 2007 states that the department has to utilise the funds earmarked for that year without carrying it forward. The issue came up for discussion at a high-level officials’ meeting convened by Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Tuesday. The Mulbagal Town Municipal Council (TMC), the Magadi TMC, the Bidar City Municipal Council (CMC) and Shimoga CMC have not submitted their action plans. The sources said that there was a delay in preparation of action plans by administrators in the absence of elected bodies. The 17 urban local bodies that reported zero utilisation of funds are Chintamani, Srirangapatna, Holalkere, Hanur, Somwarpet, Sringeri, Sakleshpur, Belur, Annigeri, Alnavar, Kalagatagi, Kundagol, Savanur, Naragund, Mundargi, Naregal and Jog Kargal. The local bodies that recorded less than 10 per cent utilisation of funds are Sira, Pavagada, Turuvekere, Mulbagal, Gudibanda, Pandavapura, K.R. Pet, Maddur, Mandya, Dandeli, Saligrama, Mulgund, Arsikere, Holenarsipur, Honnali, Shimoga, Tirthahalli and Sagar.

Funds have to be utilised for 15 programmes.If there is no expenditure for want of beneficiaries and lack of forethought in devising an action plan, the deputy commissioners are empowered to modify such plans and divert funds less than Rs. 50 lakh for schemes or activities that are beneficial to the SCs and the STs.

For diversion of more than Rs. 50 lakh, approval of the Department of Municipal Administration is required for which proposals have to be submitted. Even this has not been done though the deadline for utilisation of funds is March 31.

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