Analysis of the Govind Rao Committee Report (2026) Findings in Eliminating Regional Imbalance in Karnataka and Achieving Development. — Mahadevayya Karadalli

Nearly two decades ago, the committee headed by Prof. D. M. Nanjundappa identified backward regions and submitted a report recommending higher grants for their development in order to eliminate regional imbalance. For implementing the committee’s recommendations, the government created separate Regional Development Boards and an implementation mechanism. Thousands of corers of rupees flowed like unseasonal floodwaters during the rainy season. Judging by the volume of grants, every district of Kalyana Karnataka should have become a developed district. However, that did not happen. Instead, it is shocking that the level of backwardness in Karnataka has increased.

To address regional imbalance, a high-level committee headed by economist Prof. M. Govind Rao, constituted by the Chief Minister on March 16, 2024. The Govind Rao Committee report, submitted to the Chief Minister and published in the media but yet to be officially released to the public, classified all taluks into four categories based on social and economic indicators and the grants allocated.

The Govind Rao Committee analyzed the outcomes over two decades following the implementation of the Dr. Nanjundappa Committee Report (submitted in 2002 and implemented from 2007), covering the financial years 2000–2020. The key findings are clear.

Financial Allocation and Utilization:

• Total sanctioned grant: Rs. 60,000 crore
• Total expenditure: Rs. 42,000–48,000 crore (about 70–80%)
• Approximately Rs. 32,610 crore allocated to North Karnataka over 15 years
• Literacy rate remains 8–10% lower than the state average
• Number of backward taluks increased from 40 to 52

Taluks like Chittapur, Kalagi, Chincholi, Yadrami, and Sedam have further declined from earlier position whereas Bengaluru region has increased its status by achieving progress five times more than the Kalaburagi division, and Mysuru has advanced significantly. Despite annual grants for infrastructure such as roads, electricity, drinking water, and sanitation, no taluk in Kalyana Karnataka has achieved meaningful development due to poor maintenance, incomplete projects and lack of agricultural project’s / activities expansion.

A major issue is that government priorities change with political transitions. Funds are not released for ongoing projects initiated by previous governments, resulting in wastage of public money. For example, in Kalaburagi lake development project initiated earlier government still incomplete due to lack of funding. Public money is wasted, lake capacity is reduced, and taxpayers money goes to drain. Government  suffered the losses. The Lokayukta should independently initiate suo motu congnizance of the such issue and to action against officials responsible for incomplete projects, environmental issues, cleanliness, non protecting government assets and wastage of public resources etc.

Employment and Industry

Usually schemes in agriculture and allied sector generates employments and creates both permanent and temporary jobs. It is crystal clear that grants to this sector and for sustainable industries those provide year-round employment have not been established in these backward districts/talukas. Hence, Youths’ continuously migrating to cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru in search of employment. Large-scale industries have not been established, employment generation remains at low, and gave scope to migration.

Significant funds have been spent on school buildings, classrooms, and furniture, but only a small portion has been spent on teacher recruitment. As a result, the quality of education has not improved proportionately.

Causes of Developmental Decline:

• In spite of recruiting Qualified Teachers, lack of continuous on the job/off the job training for teachers to handle their classes has resulted in education standard showing downward trend.
• Lack of motivation, adequate educational support for on going value addition to students in improving learning standards /process/ skills. 
• No serious efforts to improve learning outcomes through extra special classes to upgrade the students knowledge at Primary / High School level. 
• To address Education Department and Management Pressure, Teachers often promote students with inflated marks.  
• Teachers are overburdened with non-teaching duties such as mid day meal, census, surveys, election work and administrative tasks.
• Downsizing school working days due to heavy rain, strikes, festivals, instant declaring holidays etc., These working days should have been adjusted in winter and summer vacations.
• Due to declining enrollment, single teachers handle multiple classes and subjects, reducing quality of education at lower level. 
• Poverty and lack of awareness among parents lead to higher dropout rates
• Awareness among rural, farming, and labor communities about education their wards needs extra attention. 

Government school teachers are talented and qualified, having passed competitive examinations. Government school standards should not fall below private institutions.  For example, few decades ago Government Arts and Science Degree College and Government Girls High schools in Kalaburagi (there are such schools and colleges in other parts of state) were have good reputation and famous in the region for their standard of education. Many Government Institution were produced highly capable officers now serving in senior positions at state and national level. 

Despite increased Primary Health Centers, shortage of specialist doctors persists. Medical services remain inadequate, infant and maternal mortality rates remain high.

Suggested Structural Reforms in Health and Education sector. 

To improve education and healthcare quality, government has to make mandatory for all government employees from junior staff to Chief Secretaries, Ministers and legislators has to admit their wards in government schools and under go treatment in government hospitals. This strategy will lead to sea change in improvements in Education and Health sector. However, this is a Herculean task because many legislators, Higher Officers in hierarchy themselves run private educational and healthcare institutions.

For development of the region Grants allocation not only the solution but Public Awareness is needed. It is the Reality.

The data clearly shows that grants allocated in the name of regional development have largely been ineffective. Shockingly, the number of backward taluks has increased by over 75%. Most of the most backward taluks are in the Kalyana Karnataka region, indicating negative growth rather than progress. These conclusions are not personal opinions of the author but derived from the findings from the government-appointed Govind Rao Committee report partially appeared in media yet to made public.

The committee found that development problems are not due to lack of funds but due to poor governance, lack of monitoring, and absence of a result-based funding system. A bird’s eye view on report that too after two decades of implementation of earlier Dr Nanjundappa Committee report on elimination of Backwardness. Instead of eliminating backwardness the earlier belief that increasing grants will automatically ensures development has been proven false 

Role of Public Awareness and Accountability

While South Karnataka has progressed, North Karnataka–especially Kalyana Karnataka–has lagged due to public indifference. Funds are often released late and remain unused in banks for months. Public representatives identify projects only at the end of the financial year and rush to spend funds hastily for publicity, leading to inefficient use. Development is possible not only through grants alone, but also through proper utilization of grants, monitoring mechanism, and caring for end utilization.  Let us recognize this truth and work towards accountability of the concerned department and personnel and result-oriented development

A large portion of funds is spent on events, publicity, and corrupt practices rather than meaningful development. Lack of public interest in monitoring of tenders and transparency has benefitted officials and contractors.

People of Kalyana Karnataka must stop waiting for the political leaders who will bring development to their door steps.  They must become vigilant like citizens in South Karnataka. 

Citizens should actively monitor and question/raise objection through at least online mode to concerned departments of public utility/ infra structure. 

• Regularising supply of Drinking water supply and sanitation, and object for full month charges even not supplying water for week/fortnight in the guise of re pair to pipe line/ motor etc.,
• Bhima, Krishna and Tungabhadra River pollution by allowing unprocessed drainage water to rivers. 
• Poor quality infrastructure such as road, building, water connection, transport etc.,
• Incomplete public works, and negligence in protecting Government land and properties. 
• Teacher shortages in School, College and even Universities. 
• Administrative delays in processing complaints and completing Schemes. 
• Misuse of funds meant for marginalized communities viz SC/ST /Backward classes.
• Public awareness, media action, and citizen engagement—not mere grants—can bring real development.

To make development in reality, People of Backward Region Kalyana Karnataka within Karnataka State try to asses, analyze, monitor and demand for systematically planned projects for the development of region. Then only not only Kalyana Karnataka region within Karnataka and also other Backward regions will achieve development at par with other developed regions of Karnataka that too with South Karnataka.