Date: May 22, 2024

A team led by Dr P Narayana Swamy, Chairperson of the 5th Karnataka State Finance Commission, held a meeting with the Vice Chairperson of the State Planning Board and other board members at the State Planning Board, Kerala. During the meeting, Planning Board members outlined the Board's role in budget formulation and decentralised planning.

The Karnataka Finance Commission members expressed their appreciation for the contributions of the District Planning Committees and the District Planning Offices, as well as the efforts of the State Resource Group. Dr Narayana Swamy appreciated Kerala's decentralised planning system as exemplary, suggesting that Karnataka has much to learn from it. He also noted the economic challenges facing Karnataka under the Modi Government, highlighting that, similar to Kerala, the state faces difficulties in utilising health grants sanctioned by the 15th Finance Commission due to Central Government conditions.

State Planning Board Vice-Chairperson Professor V K Ramachandran remarked that the meeting would enhance the planning processes and local governance in both States. Planning Board Member Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan IAS, along with members Professor Jiju P Alex, Professor K Ravi Raman, Dr P K Jameela, and Professor Mini Sukumar, Members of Karnataka State Finance Commission, Sri. Mohamed Sanaulla and Sri. R S Phonde actively participated in the discussions.