Bengaluru: Karnataka has been adjudged third in the country in the ‘Index of devolution in policy adjusted against practice’ in a study conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS).

Karnataka has been ranked second in the aggregate index of devolution in policy. It comes first in the matter of devolution in finances (policy).

In the index of devolution in practice, it ranks overall third, and is second in the matter of devolution of functionaries in practice, according to a communication issued by Sarada Muraleedharan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India.

In the communication to T M Vijay Bhaskar, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, on April 17, Sarada stated that the awards for the best performing states in the matter of enabling panchayat raj institutions will be given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of National Panchayat Diwas on April 24.

The Union Government entrusted the work of assessment of the status of devolution of powers and resources across the states and union territories in the country for the year 2014-15 to TISS.

TISS announced the index after assessing the responsibility of actual outcome of activity mapping covering the transfer of functions, institutions functionaries and finances, looking into the implementation of major centrally sponsored schemes like National Rural Health Mission, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Sakshar Bharath Abhiyan and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and some important state sponsored schemes in various states and union territories in terms of actual operationalisation of convergence.

The study also includes assessing the segregation of functions across various tiers of Panchayat Raj and the mechanisms of inter-tier coordination and arriving at an indicative ranking on the status of devolution based on the field studies.

(Inputs from agencies)