The panchayat raj institutions (PRIs) of the State have not fully utilised the funds sanctioned for rural development projects in the first eight months of the current fiscal (2013-14).
The expenditure of funds against allocation by PRIs in 30 districts was 41.25 per cent and expenditure against the release of funds by the State government was 73.48 per cent. The PRIs have been allocated Rs. 5,555.06 crore this fiscal and the release was Rs. 3,118.72 crore as on November 30, 2013. The actual expenditure incurred by PRIs was Rs. 2291.6 crore, according to officials of the Planning, Programme Monitoring and Statistics Department.
Neglected sectorsThe PRIs have not bothered to utilise the amount released for providing employment and training in rural areas, development, village and small-scale industries and taking up minor irrigation works. The percentage of expenditure incurred against the release by the government in providing employment and training was 12.47, special component plan: 21.41, rural energy: 27, minor irrigation: 13.21, village and small scale industries: 13.63, tribal sub-plan: 29.57, welfare of disabled and senior citizens: 28.94 and agricultural marketing: 8.65.
The zilla, taluk and gram panchayats of 12 districts have utilised less than 40 per cent of the allocated funds in the fiscal. The 12 districts are Chitradurga: 23.98, Chamarajanagar: 34.28, Bellary: 39.1, Koppal: 33.75, Bangalore Rural: 38.37, Gadag: 39.28, Dharwad: 39.08, Shimoga: 39.68, Bangalore Urban: 37.85, Bidar: 33.84, Raichur: 35.75 and Gulbarga: 26.26.
Major factorsOfficials of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department told The Hindu that the delay in preparing and approving action plans by PRIs and delay in taking up piece works were major factors for under utilisation of funds. Moreover, the Central funds to PRIs would not lapse and hence PRIs may utilise the amount in the next three months, they said.
Officials said 14 districts spent less than 60 per cent of the amount released. Chitradurga district ranked bottom of the table by spending 47.93 per cent of the amount released. The government released Rs. 99.79 crore to the district; the amount spent was Rs. 47.83 crore.
Yadgir, Gulbarga and Raichur districts spent more than the amount released. While Yadgir incurred expenditure of Rs. 38.78 crore against the release of Rs. 5.32 crore, Raichur district spent Rs. 71.41 crore against the release of Rs. 51.37 crore. Gulbarga spent Rs. 84.1 crore against the release of Rs. 53.41 crore.
Sector-wise spendHowever, high percentage of amount was spent on some sectors by rural local bodies.
The percentage expenditure incurred against the release on primary, secondary and general education was 82.71; adult education: 43.84; youth and sports: 40.37; medical and public health: 70.15; Ayush: 41.05; family welfare: 73.63; rural water supply: 71.96; social welfare: 62.68; welfare of backward classes: 71.52; welfare of women and child: 77.47; nutrition: 76.06; agriculture: 77.63; horticulture: 86.67; animal husbandry: 71.54; fisheries: 36.25; forest – 67.46, cooperation – 34.28, area development – 79.70, tribal sub-plan: 29.57; sericulture: 52; roads and bridges: 34.8; district planning unit: 34.3; handlooms and textiles: 58.84; science and technology: 70.7; art, culture and library: 81.14; watershed development: 183.10; and welfare of minorities: 62.11.
