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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Min. Priyank Kharge to expresses concern over implementation of VB-G Ram G
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.
He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.
Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.
He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.
He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.
Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.
The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.
“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.
