The Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) will soon constitute a health expert committee to review healthcare systems in Kalyana Karnataka region and make recommendations for comprehensive approaches that go beyond improving healthcare facilities.
KKRDB chairman Ajay Singh, addressing presspersons here on Sunday, said that the KKRDB will soon constitute a committee to fill gaps in healthcare services on the lines of the recently constituted eight-member Education Expert Committee led by economist Chaya Degaonkar.
The planned committee will address shortcomings in the existing healthcare facilities in the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka region, added.
Reiterating his commitment towards improving health and education sectors in the region, Dr. Singh said that the Education Expert Committee and the health expert committee will ensure effective implementation of Akshara Avishkara and Arogya Avishkara schemes, respectively.
The Education Expert Committee will submit its comprehensive report within two years, he said.
The KKRDB declared 2023-24 and 2024-25 as Year of Education with focus on renovating 6,538 schools. It started LKG and UKG classes in 1,008 schools benefiting 42,000 children in Kalyana Karnataka region.
200 more schools
To improve education in rural areas, 200 Karnataka Public Schools (KPS) will be established in the seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka region. Dr. Singh said that by utilizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds, the Public Instruction Department will establish four or five such schools in each taluk of the region.
Each school will be constructed at a cost of ₹5 crore and the KKRDB will take a decision during its meeting scheduled in March 2025, Dr. Singh added.
“During 2024-25, the State government has allocated ₹5,000 crore for KKRDB and the board has got approval for a ₹4,500-crore action plan for infrastructure development in various sectors in the region. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised to allocate ₹5,000 crore to the KKRDB even in the 2025-26 budget,” Dr. Singh said.
Engineering cell
Dr. Singh said that the KKRDB has submitted a proposal to the State government seeking an engineering cell under the board. The board will also take steps to fill vacant posts in the KKRDB.
Of the ₹857 crore projects approved during the State Cabinet meeting in Kalaburagi on September 17 last, a tender process for establishing new primary health centres (PHCs) , community health centres (CHCs), urban-primary health centres (U-PHC) and urban-community health centres (U-CHC) and repairs to existing healthcare centres and providing new ambulances is under way at a cost of ₹440 crore, Dr. Singh said.
The KKRDB and the Minorities Welfare Department will establish 48 Moulana Azad Schools in a 50:50 share cost and also 34 Backward Classes hostels. The board will establish hostels for students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at a cost of ₹186 crore allocated under Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP).
Besides allocating ₹137.50 crore for establishing 16 Mini Vidhana Soudhas in newly declared taluks in the region, the board has allocated ₹330 crore for improving road connectivity in rural areas under the Kalyana Patha scheme.
KKRDB secretary Sundaresh Babu was present.
