Though the Karnataka government has taken many legislative measures to decentralise powers to rural local bodies during the last three decades, fund allocations in gram panchayats (GPs) are most influenced by the elite, according to a research paper of the World Bank. Men and ‘upper’ caste individuals in GPs ensure that their preferences are represented better in allocation of funds, it said.
“Funding is least representative of the needs of women and Scheduled Castes and this a clear indication of an elite bias in funding allocations in elected GPs of Karnataka,” said the report.
