Status of Public Services in Karnataka - A Comparative District Level Analysis

Very few studies in India have highlighted the persistent 'development gap in public services' within the country, both inter-state as well as intra-state. Today, in the 21^st century there is no denying the fact that globally, there is a development 'gap' not only between nations but within them, as well as within the sub-regions of the nations. Karnataka is no exception to this universally observed and accepted reality. No doubt Karnataka is one of the most developed States of India. Information technology is now the most established sector in the state. However even Information Technology and other public services are not evenly spread throughout the state and are observed to cause a development 'gap in public services' within the state, resulting also in a conspicuous business environment, much to the disadvantage of the rural areas. The present work basically aims at examining the regional public services disparity among the districts of the Karnataka state and to identify their degree of development in public services on the bases of composite development index.