NEWS: The latest assessment of backwardness in Karnataka has led to a debate among policy experts amid concerns that developmental deficits have not been adequately met despite the government spending Rs 32,000 crore to fight regional imbalances.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Out of 236 taluks in the State, the Karnataka Regional Imbalances Redressal Committee, headed by economist M Govinda Rao, has categoried
  • 59 as ‘most backward’
  • 59 as ‘more backward’
  • 59 as ‘backward’
  • Remaining 59 as ‘developed’
• This means there is backwardness in 75% of all taluks.

D M Nanjundappa committee

• In 2002, the D M Nanjundappa committee, the first high-powered committee for redressal of regional imbalances, had found backwardness in 118 taluks
• This included 39 ‘most backward’ taluks, 40 ‘more backward’ and 39 ‘backward’. The remaining 61 were ‘developed’ taluks.
• Karnataka had 175 taluks, of which 67% had backwardness.
• Based on the recommendations of the Nanjundappa committee, the government spent Rs 32,610.24 crore from 2007-08 to 2022-23.

NOTE: The two committees (Nanjundappa and Rao) followed different conceptual frameworks and methodologies