‘Report card’ of civic group gives govt low marks after 2 yrs in power

Bengaluru: The citizens’ group Civic Bangalore released two reports reviewing the State government’s performance over the past two years at an event held in the city on Friday. One report assessed the fulfilment of manifesto promises, while the other reviewed the government’s performance across 10 sectors.

The programme also featured representatives from the ruling Congress as well as major opposition parties, the JD(S) and the BJP. The event presented the ‘report card’ along with short presentations by researchers from the organisation on the government’s performance in sectors such as health, education and the environment.

The manifesto review found that only four of the 129 promises made in the manifesto had been fulfilled — just 3.1% of the total. This was in addition to the five guarantee schemes that have been implemented. The four fulfilled promises were: revising school textbooks; installing public charging and battery-swapping points at every metro station and bus stand; enacting new legislation for the management of the BBMP and all parastatals in Bengaluru; and setting up a welfare board for taxi and auto drivers in Karnataka.

The government also failed to deliver on two key promises — completing Metro Phase 2, 2A and 2B within one year of coming to power, and filling staff and teacher vacancies in government and aided schools and colleges within the same timeframe.

Speaking about the five guarantees, researcher Krishna Prashant said, “We have talked about the five guarantees, and there are challenges, but they are also providing benefits. But it comes in a context. The government is spending about ?50,000 crore on these guarantee schemes, and what’s worth noting is that since this government came to power, we’ve be come a revenue-deficient government.

That is, we’re borrowing money for our regular expenses.” The report also lamented that no work had begun on several key issues, including holding local body elections, mandating minimum wages for gig workers, implementing the Karnataka Apartment Ownership Act, and achieving seamless integration of metro, sub urban rail and other public transport systems, among others.

In the detailed sectoral reports, the findings high lighted some commendable initiatives, such as pro-farmer measures and school nutrition programmes, but also noted several concerning trends. These included environmental degradation, a weakening health policy, and the undemocratic and unplanned development of Bengaluru.

Following the presentation of the findings, panellists, including journalist Shivasundar, professor Vinod Vysalu and party representatives, responded to the reports. BJP spokesperson Ashok K.M. Gowda accused the government of using diversionary tactics to deflect criticism.

“You see the diversionary tactics — murder happened, rape happened, turmoil happened; to divert you they bring up sanatan, Hindutva, appeasement,” he alleged. Congress spokesperson Sathyaprakash E. concluded the discussion, responding to both the report and opposition remarks.

“I have come here to listen to you all. In a democracy, that is the duty of every government, and as a representative of the party in power, I must listen to you. I promise you one thing — I will take these two reports and meet Mr. Siddaramaiah to say that this organisation has given us a report card, and let us see what the positives and what the negatives are,” he said.

The full reports are not yet available but will soon be published on Civic Bangalore’s website.