Non-profit group releases ‘report cards' of MPs and MLAs
Bengaluru: CIVIC Bangalore, a non-profit focused on urban governance and decentralisation, released 'Citizen report cards' for the city's elected representatives - four MPs and 32 MLAs, in the city on Saturday. The report was released during an event 'Namma Neta Namma Review.' The report cards were put together by citizen volunteers and student interns at the organisations over the course of the last six months, using publicly available data sources such as Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly websites, Right to Information filings, and Local Area Development scheme dashboards, among other sources. A Krishna Prashanth, a volunteer, shared that only four MLAs have fully utilised the Rs 4 crore made available under the Karnataka Legislator Local Area Development Scheme (KLLADS) over two terms: S Raghu (C V Raman Nagar), Sharath Kumar Bache Gowda (Hosakote), Uday Garudachar (Chickpet), and B A Basavaraja (Krishnarajapuram). Only one-fourth of the MLAs have allocated more than 90% of the funds, and as a result, Rs 40.79 crore of KLLADS currently lie unspent.
Manjula S (Mahadevpura) has not allocated any of her KLLADS funds. Among the MPs, P C Mohan has allocated only Rs 47 lakh out of 5 crore made available in the current term — the lowest in comparison to the other MPs. C N Manjunath leads the other MPs in terms of fund allocations, having allocated Rs 6.3 crore, encompassing two years' worth of funds, mainly on bus shelters, community halls, roads and drainage. Tejasvi Surya has allocated 34.48% of his funds towards providing drinking water and 30.17% on public space development. Shobha Karandlaje's highest fund allocation, at 19.47%, was towards the education sector. While PC Mohan had the highest attendance (98.51%) among the aforementioned MPs, he only participated in one debate. However, Tejasvi Surya, whose attendance fell below the national average of 87%, standing at 77.61%, participated in 13 debates and asked 84 questions in the Parliament. Of the 84 questions, only six were centered around Bengaluru. Actor Prakash Belawadi was the chief guest at the event. He urged the citizens to hold their elected representatives responsible and organise protests when necessary.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Making cuts in implementation of MGNREGA crime against Constitution: Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the Modi government is trying to destroy MGNREGA and said making cuts in the implementation of this scheme is a "crime against the Constitution". The Congress president shared on X a media report which claimed that for the first time, the government has capped spending under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) at 60 per cent of its annual allocation for the first half of the financial year 2025-26. In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, "The Modi government is trying to destroy MGNREGA, the lifeline of the poor. The Modi government has now fixed the limit of MGNREGA expenditure at 60% for the first 6 months of the year". Making cuts in the implementation of MGNREGA, which ensures the Right to Work under the Constitution, is a "crime against the Constitution", he said. Posing questions from the Congress' side, Kharge asked whether the Modi government is doing this only because it wants to snatch about Rs 25,000 crore from the pockets of the poor, which it has to spend separately in the next financial year when the demand is high at the end of the year. "Since MGNREGA is a demand-driven scheme, what happens if there is a surge in demand during the first half in case of disasters or adverse weather conditions? Will not imposing such a cap hurt the poor who depend on MGNREGA for their livelihood?" Kharge said. What happens if the limit is crossed and will states be forced to deny employment despite demand, or will workers have to work without payment, he asked. Is it not true that according to a recent report, only 7 per cent of families have received the promised 100 days of work, Kharge further asked. "Why were nearly 7 crore registered workers excluded from MGNREGA on the condition of AADHAAR based payment? Why was the MGNREGA budget allocated the least in the total budget in 10 years? Why is the anti-poor Modi government hell-bent on oppressing MGNREGA workers?" he said. The axing of expenditure on MGNREGA is a severe blow inflicted by the Modi government on the lives of every poor, Kharge said, adding the Congress will vehemently oppose this. "We are firm on our two demands -- First, a minimum wage of Rs 400 per day should be fixed for MGNREGA workers. Second, there should be employment for at least 150 days in a year," he said.
India Today
42 minutes ago
- India Today
Survival, not side gig: Karnataka bike taxi riders body urge regulation, not ban
The Namma Bike Taxi Association has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, urging immediate intervention to stop the state's blanket ban on bike taxis, set to take effect from June comes in the wake of a recent Karnataka High Court verdict that upheld an earlier government order declaring the operations of bike taxi platforms like Rapido, Ola, and Uber Moto illegal, citing the lack of a clear regulatory their letter, the association stressed that over one lakh gig workers across Karnataka, many of them in Bengaluru, depend entirely on bike taxis for their livelihood.'We, bike taxi drivers, are students, daily-wage earners, helpers, parents - many of us turned to this work when other jobs were not available, especially after COVID. Some of us work all 7 days, covering 10-12 hours a day, just to feed our families. We ride in the hot sun, heavy rain, and traffic to keep the city moving. This is how we pay rent, school fees, and medical bills. Bike taxis are not a side income. They are how we survive,' the letter said. Rather than an outright ban, the association has urged the government to introduce clear guidelines around licensing, insurance, driver training, and safety, as done by Delhi, Telangana, and also warned of disruptions to daily commuters, citing that bike taxis offer nearly 8 crore rides annually and remain the most affordable option in many areas underserved by other transport modes.'Passengers also suffer. Many use bike taxis for quick, low-cost rides. These are the only affordable rides for thousands, especially where buses are few. We do nearly 8 crore trips in a year. Who will help these riders now?' the letter for constructive dialogue with driver communities, the association has asked for a balanced and inclusive policy that protects both passenger safety and gig workers' InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Bengaluru#Karnataka
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Fresh caste survey in Karnataka: BJP says Congress always betrayed OBCs
The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of always deceiving and betraying the Other Backward Classes following the Karnataka government's decision to junk an earlier caste survey in favour of a fresh count. Union minister and BJP leader Bhupender Yadav asked for fixing accountability, noting that over Rs 165 crore of public money was spent in carrying out the now-dumped caste survey. Yadav claimed that the Congress has a history of betraying the OBC interests as he recalled that its governments at the Centre had ignored the Kaka Kalelkar Commission report on empowering the backward classes. The party also opposed the Mandal Commission recommendations, he said. He told reporters that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the decision for a new caste survey was not his government's but the Congress leadership's. Yadav questioned such an intervention of the party in the government's decision-making, and compared it with the interference from Sonia Gandhi-headed National Advisory Council in the UPA government. Live Events It is the Modi government, Yadav said, which has worked for the socio-economic empowerment of the backward classes with its numerous schemes. It also accorded constitutional status on the National Commission for Backward Classes, he added. The Karnataka government's decision does not only highlight the internal contradictions of the Congress but also highlighted that social justice is mere optics for the party. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
