Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who also oversees Hassan district, voiced his deep disappointment during a recent review. He noted that many officers tend to define ‘development’ simply by how much money they spend and whether targets are met, rather than genuinely evaluating if programs truly serve their intended purpose for the people.
During a development review meeting in Hassan on Tuesday, Minister Byre Gowda highlighted that officers’ progress reports focused solely on financial figures. He pointed out that they failed to articulate whether this spending actually led to meaningful progress. ‘Based on these reports, it appears many officers have lost sight of the public’s well-being,’ he remarked, holding up a copy of the prepared document.
The Minister emphasized that the core objective of his review meetings is to understand the tangible effects of development initiatives on citizens. ‘If we reduce the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) to just financial achievements, we are fundamentally failing the people. It’s time to shift your perspective towards development and truly comprehend how communities are benefiting,’ he asserted.
In his assessment of the public distribution scheme, he questioned why 18,000 families in the district hadn’t collected their rations for three consecutive months. Byre Gowda insisted that officers should have investigated these families to determine if they still required assistance. ‘While missing rations for one month is understandable, three months suggests they might not need them. An officer’s crucial role is to ensure these programs genuinely reach those who are intended to benefit,’ he explained.
Turning to the Health Department, Minister Byre Gowda directed officials to broaden their focus beyond infectious diseases to include lifestyle-related illnesses. ‘Doctors shouldn’t exclusively concentrate on communicable diseases. They must also address non-communicable conditions, which are largely influenced by modern lifestyle choices,’ he stressed.
He also reprimanded Education Department officials regarding the noticeable drop in enrollments at government schools. He pressed for an explanation as to why parents were hesitant to enroll their children, despite the government providing extensive benefits. ‘Government school teachers earn significantly higher salaries than their private school counterparts. We offer meals, books, uniforms, shoes, and milk. So, why are admissions declining?’ he challenged the officers.
Attendees at the meeting included Arasikere MLA K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, Lok Sabha member Shreyas Patel, and Deputy Commissioner K.S. Lathakumari, among others.