Kodagu Congress debunks Pratap Simha's assertion on Kodava Development Corporation funding

Pratap Simha and Ajjikuttira S Ponnanna

Madikeri: In the midst of a verbal exchange between Virajpet MLA Ajjikuttira S Ponnanna and Mysore-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha over the allocation of a Rs 10 crore grant to the Kodava Development Corporation, the Kodagu district Congress claimed that the corporation has yet to receive any funds.

During a press conference at the Madikeri Press Club, members of the district Congress stated that they utilized the Right to Information (RTI) to obtain information from the Deputy Commissioner's office. According to the information received, the Kodava Development Corporation has not yet received any funds.

Speaking to reporters, Congress leader and party district spokesperson Tennira Maina said, “Under the Right to Information Act, 2005, we requested details regarding the government grant received from 2022-23 until now for the Kodava Development Corporation. The written response from the Deputy Commissioner's office confirms that no grant has been received so far."

Clash of Claims:

A few months ago, during the centenary event at Virajpet Kodava Samaja, Mr. Pratap Simha had said that the previous BJP government, led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, had set up the Kodava Development Corporation and allocated Rs 10 crores to it. Mr. Ponnanna, who was present on the same stage, contested the MP's assertion, stating that not a single rupee had been disbursed.

Subsequently, this news circulated widely across the district. While some contended that the MP's statement was accurate, others said that Mr. Ponnana's information was correct. The video of this exchange gained traction and went viral on social media.

What is Kodava Development Corporation?

In March 2023, the BJP government led by Mr. Basavaraj Bommai officially announced the establishment of the Karnataka State Kodava Development Corporation. The notification outlined the corporation's mission to facilitate the holistic development of the Kodava community.

Setting up the Corporation had been a longstanding demand from the Kodava Community, based on the fact that the people of Kodagu possess a unique culture and distinctive customs that require preservation and cultivation.