Rural Karnataka

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Please post here news, articles, pictures related to culture, life, developmental activities, issues in rural Karnataka including agriculture, rural professions, etc.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

It was a pleasant surprise to see the chief minister of a state writing in newspapers about agriculture and rural development and inviting public opinion on the issue for a special session of the legislature. It was also unprecedented as ministers, leave alone the chief minister, generally tend to sidestep the demands and views of the public when formulating decisions. Whether the ideas generated through this unique gesture are accommodated in the final policy remains to be seen. But Mr Y has certainly forced the opposition on the back foot.

The special session, which will be held on September 9, 10 and 11 will thus be closely scrutinized.

Rural Karnataka is not in a great state. Farmers battling crop failures and poor compensation prices are dealt a lethal blow by way of intermittent power supply.

Most areas complain that they get power only about three hours a day. And then there is this great paradox: while finding employment in rural areas is a Herculean task, land owners complain of a shortage of farm hands and high cost of labour. Migration to cities is another issue of concern. A rural youth would much rather work as a helper in an MNC than till his own land.

How can the government strike that balance between clocking impressive growth figures and retaining farmland for agriculture? By providing access to schools, healthcare and means of earning a decent livelihood.

And the assurance of a helping hand when disease or drought strikes. Going by what Mr Y wrote in the newspapers, he is aiming to achieve just that. If he succeeds, it could be a role model for all other states.

Lessons from rural Karnataka

On a recent trip towards the western coast, I couldn’t help but notice the splendour of Karnataka. Mother Earth was blooming in all its glory as the rain gods showered it with love and affection. But that was just nature doing its duty. We humans, on the other hand, seem to have forgotten what we are supposed to do. Heading into Shimoga from Bhadravathi, I kept asking a colleague why there was no road despite the area being home to two of the most powerful politicians in the state: Mr Y and his son, Raghavendra, Member of Parliament. I still haven’t got an answer and probably never will.

The stretch between Kumta and Karwar, some 40 km, is another paradox. While the landscape will fill up your senses, the road (or the lack of it) will knock the wind out. And this is supposed to be a National Highway, mind you.

Rural areas would give higher priority to access to better healthcare and education systems than access to better roads. But broken roads are symptomatic of our reluctance to solve problems of rural areas.

Source: EB

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Bangalore: A special Assembly session began here to discuss issues on agriculture and rural development, with Karnataka chief minister B. S. Yeddyurappa appealing to members to come out with meaningful solutions to improve the conditions of villages and lives of farmers.

“Convening a session to discuss our society’s and state’s most important issues of agriculture and rural development is probably a first in the country’s legislature history”, Yeddyurappa said in the assembly on Wednesday.

The House was to meet for three days from Wednesday, however, speaker Jagadish Shettar said it was decided at the business advisory committee to extend the session by another three days.

Highlighting the plight of farmers, Yeddyurappa lamented that despite many programmes for their benefit, nothing has been done to improve their lot. Villages have remained as they were for decades.

Villages have become old-age homes, he said, adding, there is a dire need to stop people from migrating to urban areas by creating infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and industries in rural areas to arrest the trend.

“Despite many projects in force and lakhs of crores of rupees having been spent, our villages have not developed as per expectations”, the chief minister said.

Calling for a meaningful discussion, Yeddyurappa said the members’ suggestions and ideas on agriculture and rural development would be incorporated while drafting the next budget.

Earlier, leader of opposition, Siddaramaiah (Congress), sought to move an adjournment motion seeking to discuss the drought situation in the state.

He alleged that though 86 taluks in 20 districts have been declared drought-hit, the government has not come out with any contengency plan to tackle the situation.

He highlighted crop loss in parts of the state, fodder shortage and charged the government with failing to implement the National Rural Employment Guarantee programme in the state effectively.

Declining his consent for the adjournment motion, the speaker said the issue would be taken up under a different rule on Monday.

Source: livemint.com

[engineer.akash]

a very well thought initiative krishnamoorthy..........keep it up.....

[engineer.akash]

Rs 2,000 cr to be spent under NREGS


Speaker Jagadish Shettar chairs the special Assembly Session on agriculture at Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore on Thursday.
Express News Service
First Published : 11 Sep 2009 04:49:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Sep 2009 09:21:33 AM IST

BANGALORE: The state government is keen on tapping as much as Rs 2,000 crore of the funds available under the centre’s National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa told the Legislative Council on Thursday and blamed the officials for going slack on the programmes under the scheme.

Intervening in the discussions on day two of the special session, the chief minister acknowledged that the state had defaulted on effectively tapping into NREGS during the previous year.

As against Rs 2,201 crore sourced by Andhra Pradesh, Rs 1,170 crore by Rajasthan, Rs 5,069 crore by Madhya Pradesh during the last year, Karnataka was able to make use of just Rs 428 crore, the chief minister noted.

Yeddyurappa,who said that he has held two to three officiallevel meetings in this regard, observed that somehow the officials are not ready to utilise the available funds.

Earlier members Manohar Maski (BJP) and S R Patil (Congress) dwelt on subjects ranging from irrigation, power and horticulture.

Opening the discussion for the day Manohar Maski drew attention to the state of the Tungabhdra dam. “Accumulation of silt and lack of remedial measures has reduced the dam’s storage capacity so much that three lakh hectares of cultivable land is robbed of water,” he said.

Maski also referred to what he termed as “water-borne crimes” that are a direct result of lack of sufficient water for agriculture purposes.

S R Patil referred to issues like the need for “equitable” supply of electricity and involvement of youth in nation-building activities.

CM hails Cong MLC for progress of village

Legislative Council member S R Patil’s (Congress) expression of unreserved pride in the overall development that has been achieved in his village— Badagandi in Bagalkot—on Thursday saw Chief Minister Yeddyurappa offering a statement in compliment.

Patil, authorised by Opposition leader V S Ugrappa to open the Opposition’s statements in the session on ‘agriculture and rural development,’ told the House, “There is no unemployment in my village.

Farmers get low interest loans too. I am happy about it.” He then turned towards Yeddyurappa and said, “My village is better. I am sad for your Bookanakere.” As a few members acknowledged the progress achieved in Patil’s village by setting up sugar factory and other facilities, the CM stood up and commended Patil on the achievement in his village.

Yeddyurappa added, “I wish every elected representative had done at least 25 per cent of such work.” In the status paper submitted to both Houses of the Legislature on day one of the special session on Wednesday, Yeddyurappa had referred to the sorry state of affairs at the place of his birth Bookanakere in Mandya. Just 112 toilets in a village of 795 family units was one of the many points the CM had cited to highlight the long walk still ahead in rural development.


http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/s...2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Bangalore: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah on Friday took Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to task for failing to utilise huge budget allocation and Central funds for various welfare schemes.

Concluding the debate on agriculture and rural development, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the State Government failed to spend Central funds to the tune of Rs. 422.7 crore in providing water in the rural areas during 2006-07 and 2009-10.

During 2009-10, Rs. 806.71 crore was allocated for drinking water, but the Government released only Rs. 268.09 crore and spent Rs. 188.23 crore.

Even during 2008-09, it spent Rs. 869.91 crore of the Rs. 1,010.72 crore allocated for the purpose, which showed the commitment of the BJP government to rural areas, he said.

Under rural raoads, the government allocated Rs. 200 crore during 2008-09 and reduced it to Rs.100 crore, but spent only Rs.90 crore; under the Prime Minister’s Gram Sadak scheme, Rs. 450.06 crore was spent out of Rs. 566.15 crore. Inviting of tenders was still under process for developing 2,787 km of roads at a cost of Rs. 810 crore, he added.

Under the rural connectivity programme through the zilla panchayats, Rs. 107.04 crore was allocated, but the government reduced it to Rs. 82.13 crore during 2008-09. For 2009-10, only Rs.15.20 crore had been provided, he said.

Mr. Siddaramaiah accused the government for delaying in spending Rs. 1,061 crore released by the Centre during 2006-07 for taking steps to provide employment and increase income of the poor villagers.

Even after three years, it was yet to spend Rs. 725 crore, he alleged.

The Congress leader criticised Mr. Yeddyurappa, who also hold the Finance portfolio, for not reimbursing Rs.1,500 crore of the Rs.2,300 crore towards the farmers’ loan waiver scheme implemented by him in 2006.

The cooperative societies had become ineligible to get refinance from the NABARD and the sector was on the verge of bankruptcy, the Congress leader said.

He advised the government to utilise the experience of the RUDSETI of Dharmasthala by involving it in rural development.

He said that the institutions such as Infosys and Wipro and some prestigious banks should be requested to finance in creating infrastructure in backward taluks. He called for preparing a time-bound action plan to implement all these measures.

Source: The Hindu

[Krishnamoorthy K]

• The Centrally-sponsored ‘Nirmal Gram Puraskar’ aims at achieving total sanitation in rural areas
• 70 per cent of villages in the district have implemented the sanitation scheme
• Central team to visit a few gram panchayats which are yet to be certified

Source: The Hindu

[Krishnamoorthy K]

The public engaged themselves in repairing the road that was damaged due to landslide occurred in the way between Siddapur-Harsikatta-Muttalli 5-6 days ago. The road was blocked and plying of buses on this road was temporarily stopped.

Pot holes had completely damaged the road between Harsikatta-Muttalli. Landslide near the curve caused hardship for the people of this region. So bus service in Siddapur- Muttalli (via Harsikatta) route was temporarily withdrawn by the authorities. More than a 100 rural people of this area were facing hardships due to the stoppage of bus services.

People of Urathota, Navalagona, Hubbagai, Hoskoppa, Kombemane, Uyyalemane, Muttalli villages engaged themselves in road repair work and they also repaired part of the road where landslide had occurred. Bus service was resumed on Friday evening.

Source: Udayavani

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Slightly old news.

BANGALORE: Taking an exception to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa’s move to convene a special session to discuss and evolve means for development of farmers and rural masses, state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy said that the former should focus on proper implementation of existing schemes instead of wasting time and resources on discussing the same old issues.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, the former CM said that several programmes aimed at rural development were implemented during his tenure and the present government need not bother to evolve new schemes but to implement them. `` All this government should do is to implement whatever programmes I initiated.’’ Taking a swipe at Yeddyurappa for expressing concern about rural development in Karnataka while touring in China he said ``I think realisation has dawned upon our CM while in China.

Sitting there he is thinking about rural development in Karnataka and convening a special legislature session for the purpose ." Criticising Yeddyurappa’s views about realising Gandhiji’s dream of gram swarajya and former president A P J Abdul Kalam’s vision of PURA (providing urban amenities in rural areas) Kumaraswamy said that he should first implement the schemes under Suvarna Grama Yojane, State Agriculture Policy of 2006 and the plan prepared by the M R Sreenivasamurthy committee during the JD(S)-BJP coalition rule .

Referring to a day long meeting with experts during his tenure as the CM, Kumaraswamy said that based on their suggestions , he evolved a Rs 7,000 crore project to be implemented over five years to better lives of farmers in the state. Unfortunately, it was gathering dust as the present government did not show any interest. “ Successive governments in the past which failed to fix scientific prices for farmers’ produce, however, compete while recovering farm loans. Keeping this in mind, my government waived farm loans up to Rs 25,000. Everyone including farmers now know the reality of Yeddyurappa who as a finance minister in my government opposed the farm loan waiver scheme,’’ he chided. Kumaraswamy also took a dig at the CM for allegedly refusing to earmark Rs 400 crore for implementation of the new agriculture policy as the then finance minister of the JD(S)- BJP coalition government.

He said that the CM’s move to call a special session reminds him of Allam Prabhu who said ``one who seeks a different horse instead of riding the one already given to him is neither courageous nor bold.”

Source: EB

According to Yeddyurappa, it was former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda who opposed extending farm credit at 3% interest during JD(S)-BJP coalition government.

Source: TOI

[Krishnamoorthy K]

BANGALORE: Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramaiah on Friday said that the state would suffer a 20 per cent shortage in the food production this year due to inadequate rainfall and unscientific agriculture practices being adopted over the years.

Participating in the debate in the Assembly on problems of farmers and rural masses, Siddaramaiah said that standing crop spread over 20 lakh hectares has been damaged while sowing had not been done in over 13 lakh hectares due to less rainfall this year. This would result in the shortage of food production at least by 20 per cent.

The Leader of the Opposition said that Karnataka’s food production has stagnated around 100-110 lakh tonnes per year since a decade and no concentrated efforts have been made to increase this.

He alleged that under NREGS, the government had spent just Rs 236 crore out of Rs 419 crore in 2007-08, while its spending in the 2008-09 was just Rs 357 crore out of Rs 642 crore.

Source: EB

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Bangalore, Sept 10: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today warned of criminal action against those having more than one Below Poverty Line (BPL) cards, by providing fictitious address to get foodgrains supplied through Public Distribution System (PDS) at subsidised rates.

Intervening during a special debate on Agriculture and Rural Development in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Mr Yeddyurappa said there was a need to stop the menace as a preliminary check into the beneficiaries list under BPL had revealed largescale misuse of state benefits.

Stating that due to the misuse of Government benefits by some vested interests it had resulted into denial to targetted group, the Chief Minister said and warned of initiating criminal proceedings against the guilty.

Strongly advocating the need to check the growth of population, the Chief Minister said the government was considering to restrict the benefit of certain social security schemes only to those who haven small family with two children. ''The State Government had the power to take decision on the matter,'' he said.

Mr Yedyurappa also sought cooperation from the opposition parties to adopt a resolution in both Houses of the legislature, urging the Union Government to evolve a National Policy on family planning with two children at the national level.

Agriculture and rural development

Karnataka MLAs, discounting party affiliations on Thursday regretted that agriculture had become economically unviable on account of low investment, both by the government and private sectors, and the delay in service delivery to farmers.

Participating in a debate on agriculture and rural development in the Legislative Assembly here, Appachu Ranjan (Bharatiya Janata Party), Karadi Sanganna (Janata Dal(Secular) and Sharan Prakash Rudrappa Patil (Congress), said government investment in the farm sector was meager. They said reliance on the Monsoon and untimely supply of inputs to farmers by government agencies has hampered agricultural growth in the State.

Developing rural infrastructure and increasing farmers’ income alone could bring in overall economic progress, said Mr. Ranjan. Heavy rains in Kodagu district had damaged standing crops. He also urged the Government to pay suitable compensation to the affected farmers.

Mr. Sanganna said the rural people were denied basic services such as education, roads, electricity and housing. Literacy rate was very low in north Karnataka districts and only 27 per cent of the land had been provided with irrigation facility. Unlike Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the State had not exploited its irrigation potential for increasing the cultivable area. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who took oath in the name of farmers, had to come out with a special plan for revival of the farm sector, the JD (S) member said.

Mr. Patil said only 14 per cent of the budget amount had been set aside for agricultural development, which was inadequate for accelerating the farm growth rate. The agrarian economy could be revived only by increasing the budget outlay to at least 30 per cent. Unlike in other sectors, private firms refrained from investing in agricultural and rural development sectors, he claimed.

Government’s initiatives have failed to spur farm growth on account of delay in distribution of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, granting of farm loans and payment of crop insurance, Mr. Patil criticised. Despite amendments to the Agricultural Produce Marketing (APMC) Act, 1966, there had been no substantial investment in the marketing sector. He urged the Government to offer tax concessions to industrialists to set up agro-based industries in the backward taluks of the State.

K'taka CM concerned

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today expressed concern over the deteriorating quality of debates in the Legislative sessions in the state.

Releasing a series of 12 books on former eminent legislators here, he said the present level of debates in the sessions of both the Houses lacked effectiveness in presenting the issues of the people and the state. Recalling contributions of the past members to the debates in the House were a good guidance to the present generation of leaders, he said the series of books written on 12 past-elected representatives were very effective in drawing the attention of the state government to the issues concerning the people in a constructive way. In this regard, the Chief Minister mentioned the names of former Irrigation Minister K N Nagegowd for his knowledge in the subject.

Legislative Coucil Chairman Veer Anna Mattikatti, Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar, Leader of Opposition in Assembly Siddaramaiah and leader of Opposition in Legislative Council V S Ugrappa also attended the function, which was conducted by the legislators library section.

Source: Mangalorean

[Krishnamoorthy K]

For 23-year-old graduate Jayalakshmi, getting a job as an executive at a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm was a dream. But getting it at her village here, near the historic Srirangapatna town in Mandya district, was the icing on the cake.

The BPO, Mpro Solutions, started operations Aug 7 and is supported by the Karnataka government, which wants to show India how information technology (IT) can change the rural economy. Its target: create almost 100,000 jobs in the hinterland.

'There is a gold mine here,' said Mpro director B.S. Venugopal. 'Talented youngsters from rural areas could be an asset.'

Read full news on sify.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

• Job cards issued to 88,000 families in Dharwad district
• 5,978 works at a cost of Rs. 22.52 crore taken up in Dharwad district under NREGA
• Computers provided for 70 per cent of the gram panchayats in district
• 46,300 fruit bearing plants had been planted by the department for development of horticulture

Read full news on The Hindu.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

image hosted on flickr

Courtesy: srikvisw

Dollu Kunitha (drum dance), is a major form of art, occupies the pride of place among folk dances. For deails read wikipedia.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

image hosted on flickr

Courtesy: Diji


Courtesy: Durgaprasad hegde

This is naga (cobra) worship ritual of Tulunadu (Udupi, Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka and Kasaragod in Kerala). Read nagaradhane in wikipedia.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Sirsi, September 14: The roads constructed on the demand of people after the celebration of Independence Day, have been ripped off in the first monsoon rains. This has made the people angry. The complaint that the state highways from Shirsi to Siddhapur and the roads linking Kalenalli Katri to Nallur of Soraba Taluk through Moodalli route, also the road connecting to Harishe are the roads of low standard prove to be true when viewed closely. These roads which were completed before the first week of June have completely ripped off within 100 days, reflect the poor construction of roads.

The road construction work costing about Rs.1crore 20 lakhs has finished the work of 4 kms out of 5 kms. No chance is left out for setting slope stakes.

The village people are not provided any information regarding road construction. The people complain about the pathetic condition of roads in Colombe, Nellur, Harishe, Suragikoppe, Kalenalli, Thoudale and Moodale.

Source: Udayavani

Akash, I am hardly finding any english news papaer reportings on needs of rural areas. Probably kannada news papers are far better than english ones.

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Siddapur, September 14: The veterinary hospital in Shettipalu of Hallihoole Gram Panchayath limits in Kundapur Taluk has got no veterinarians due to lack of basic facilities. This area is prominent in dairy farming but the veterinary hospital has remained ineffective in treating the animals. As a result people of this region have to travel to distant places with their cattles. The doctors appointed in the veterinary hospital of this region, voluntarily prefer transfer and move to some other regions.

The veterinary hospital situated on the hill, has been surrounded by plants densely and there is no proper road to attend the hospital, so people of the locality say that if the health of their animals becomes upset, death remains as the only choice for the animals.

The concerned authorities should pay attention towards this hospital and provide the hospital with basic facilities.

Source: Udayavani

[engineer.akash]

Originally Posted by Krishnamoorthy K

Akash, I am hardly finding any english news papaer reportings on needs of rural areas. Probably kannada news papers are far better than english ones.

true

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam's pet theme `PURA' (providing urban amenities in rural areas) is set to take wings in BJP-ruled Karnataka.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced in the Legislative Assembly the government's intention to realise Kalam's concept with a new project -- `Kalampura'.

In this regard, physical, social and financial infrastructure, available in cities, would be provided along with communication network, at the level of Hobli (villages of a taluk grouped into smaller clusters).

"This project would be implemented in 200 hoblis in rural assembly segments", he said, replying to a three-day debate on issues relating to agriculture and rural development.

Process would be initiated to prepare a detailed project report on the initiative this year itself.

Based on the report, clusters of villages would be developed based on Kalam's vision. A consultative meeting would be organised with Kalam along with Ministers and officials, before preparing the next year's budget, the Chief Minister added.

Source: DHNS

[Krishnamoorthy K]

Karnataka government would amend the Land Revenue Act to recognise farm-dependent industries, godowns and cold storage units as agriculture-allied activity, and conversion of land up to five acres would not be necessary for them.

Replying to a three-day debate on agriculture and rural development in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said this would be done to encourage food processing industries, and applicable for such industries outside district headquarters. He also said as per the Government's industrial policy 2009-14, support grants were restricted to certain zones but this limitation would be removed in respect of agriculture-dependent industries in all the 164 taluks (barring 12 developed ones) and they would be given 25 per cent support grants (maximum of Rs 30 lakh).

"This support grant will be extended to setting up of godowns and cold storage units also", Yeddyurappa said. To encourage horticultural crops, four mega markets, with sorting, coldstorage and packing facilities, would be set up with private sector participation. A horticulture export zone would be established near the Bangalore International Airport, he said.

Yeddyurappa said a special project would be drawn up to develop 50 km of roads each in rural assembly segments and the tendering process would be initiated this year. "By this way, 10,000 km quality roads would be constructed on annuity basis in the next two years",he said. A sum of Rs 100 crore would be alloted for acquiring land in rural areas and distribute sites for the home-less. 'Kisan' cards would be issued in the next two years to enable farmers to get loans with three per cent interest. The current crop insurance scheme was not benefitting many farmers.So, government would implement a weather-related farm insurance scheme.The government would pay 50 per cent of the premium to be paid by small and marginal farmers for this insurance, from the current level of ten per cent.

In the next four years, government aims to bring five lakh farmers under organic farm cultivation. Government would introduce the system of "ombudsman" as part of efforts to strengthen panchayat raj institutions and to bring in more efficiency and transparency in their functioning. To encourage rural girls to join nursing colleges, except in Bangalore, government would give them a support assistance of Rs 10,000 at the time of their admission, Yeddyurappa said.

Source: DHNS