Karnataka will strengthen finances of local bodies: Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar

The Karnataka government will take steps to improve the financial position of gram panchayats and strengthen decentralised governance, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Wednesday (October 14).

Chairing a meeting of the Karnataka State Decentralisation Planning and Development Committee here, he said a committee headed by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister would be formed to examine the recommendations of the Fifth State Finance Commission on fund allocation and administrative reforms. The committee would review the recommendations that could be implemented and submit a report, he said.

Under the Fifth State Finance Commission’s report, ₹1,261 crore has been released to gram panchayats, ₹557 crore to taluk panchayats and ₹183 crore to zilla panchayats, Mr. Shivakumar said.