Why in news? The Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission-2 submitted its 4th and 5th Reports to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai

Highlights:

• The committee is headed by M. Vijay Bhaskar, former Chief Secretary of Karnataka
• The 4th and 5th reports of the commission suggested the measures on improving the quality of primary education, and delivery of services in health, veterinary, agriculture, BBMP, and other administrative departments.

What are the major recommendation of committee?

Education

• The State government to ban on private practice by government doctors of all departments and modifying “rural quota” to “rural SSLC board/government school quota” to enable more rural students to get seats in MBBS course.
• Common screening centres staffed with MBBS, nursing, and paramedical interns may be started at the out-patient department(OPD) counters of hospitals for referral and entering data in e-Hospital
• It suggested creation of an NRI quota of 5%-10% in government medical colleges in Karnataka
• Shift nearest anganwadi centre operating from rented buildings to nearest government hospitals
• Merge lower primary and higher primary schools within 100m of higher primary school
• Do away with the need of transfer certificate
• Merge employment service department with Kaushalya mission

Health

• “Interns and Arogya Mitras would be given tabs to do in-situ registration, payment, and issue of OPD slips.
• Kannada signage may be extensively put up at necessary locations.
• Disability rehabilitation would also be covered under Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka.

Women and Child development

• The panel suggested giving five eggs per week instead of two per week to severely malnourished (SAM) and moderately malnourished (MAM) children aged 6 months to 3.
• It suggested providing two eggs per week to normal children.
• Set up separate directorates for child development and for women empowerment and development

Agriculture

• It was also suggested that an e-auction system for silk cocoons could be set up to benefit farmers, while a software system to monitor prices outside market yards could also be set up
• Surplus vet clinics be shifted to the districts of Belgaum, Koppal, Raichur and Bellary since they had a shortfall
• Transfer excess assistant agriculture officers in Raitha Samparka Kendras to district based on workload
• Set up post-harvest cell within the department of horticulture for post-harvest management

Administration

• Document verification to be done by department concerned before issuing appointment order
• Create apprenticeship vacancies in state PSU’s to the maximum limit of 15%of the post
• It has also been suggested that 30 posts for Deputy Commissioners of the BBMP be created.
• Abolish Karnataka State Cooperative Election Authority

Thus KARC-2 report recommendation is needed for the essential for public administration policy making that enhances the efficiency of governance