Karnataka panel recommends Rs 10,000 crore for school infrastructure
Bengaluru (PTI): A sub-committee of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission has recommended that the state government allocate Rs 10,000 crore to improve infrastructure in primary schools to ensure compliance with the RTE Act.
The commission’s vice-chairman and Congress MLA from Aland, B R Patil, submitted the report to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also heads the panel, on Thursday.
The commission urged the government to consider the recommendations in the 2026–27 state budget and focus on improving RTE implementation, reducing dropout rates, and restructuring higher education to meet emerging challenges.
The report stated, “To ensure that at least 50 per cent of primary schools in the state comply with the standards and norms of the RTE Act, we recommend allocating Rs 10,000 crore to strengthen infrastructure in government schools. The overall timeframe for achieving 50 per cent compliance should not exceed three years.”
The panel said a comprehensive roadmap must be prepared for the “effective and meaningful implementation” of the RTE Act, noting that enforcement had weakened in recent years.
It urged the School Education Department to draw up a realistic action plan to ensure statewide adherence to statutory norms.
Calling for the strengthening of School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), the report stressed that democratic processes must be strictly followed in their constitution and that political interference should be eliminated. It also recommended decentralisation of funds and greater community participation in school governance.
The sub-committee proposed a phased expansion of the RTE Act to cover children aged 4 to 18 years, stating that restricting the legal guarantee to the 6–14 age group was inadequate in the current educational landscape.
To improve retention at the secondary level, the panel recommended reviving the free bicycle distribution scheme for girls. Citing a secondary-level dropout rate of 22.9 per cent, it described the scheme as an “essential investment in equity and opportunity.”
In higher education, the report advised against filling vacant teaching posts without reassessing long-term academic requirements in view of technological advancements and artificial intelligence. It recommended setting up an expert committee within six months to review degree programmes and faculty needs.
The panel further proposed creating a Karnataka State Research Endowment Fund to address declining central research grants and boost innovation, patents, and academic output in universities and colleges.
It also called for establishing Skill Development Departments in every university and constituting Industry-Academia Advisory Boards to better align curricula with evolving employment demands.
The recommendations were finalised by five sub-committees of the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission and submitted to the government for consideration in the upcoming budget.
The 204-page KSPPC report also includes recommendations on health, environment, agriculture, women and child development, and labourers’ welfare.
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Nora Fatehi apologises before NCW over 'Sarke Chunar' row, vows support for orphan girls
New Delhi (PTI): Actor Nora Fatehi on Thursday appeared before the National Commission for Women in connection with a controversy surrounding the song 'Sarke Chunar' and apologised, saying there was "no intention to offend anybody."
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Fatehi said she had been put in a situation unintentionally but acknowledged her responsibility as an artist.
"It was just a situation that I was put in, and there was no intention to offend anybody. But of course, I have to be responsible as an artiste. I definitely apologise, we have done everything in writing. They have been so kind and helpful," she said.
The actor also said she has decided to sponsor the education of a few orphan girls.
"It's really important for us to give back to society. So, I decided that we should sponsor a few orphan girls, their education, so that is the goal after this matter," she said.
Earlier, Fatehi distanced herself from the Hindi version of the song, saying she had shot the Kannada version and that her permission was not taken for its use in Hindi.
The Hindi version of the song, released on March 15 on YouTube, triggered outrage among a section of the public over its allegedly explicit lyrics.
Following the backlash, the makers removed the Hindi version from YouTube, though it continued to circulate across platforms. The lyricist, singer and director have also issued apologies.
'KD The Devil' is a Kannada film, dubbed in four languages, including Hindi.
