Yashodhar Bangera

Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri (EP)

Moodbidri, Sep 20: Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, Iruvail unit gheraod Hosabettu Panchayat on Friday September 19. They threatened that they will protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner and the minister if their demands are not met.

The chief secretary of the sangha, Yadava Shetty addressed the protesters and urged that Mahatma Gandhi national employment guarantee scheme should be implemented, basic necessities such as drinking water should be provided, poor people who are living on government land should be given door numbers, allowance to the handicapped should be paid properly, farmers on government land should be made their owners, crematoriums should be renovated and so on. He said that the balance underemployment guarantee scheme should be paid before October 2.

Some protesters alleged that the panchayat is not paying suitable wages under the scheme and harassing them. Some of their job cards are taken and have not been returned. Owners of acres of land are given BPL cards and the poor are issued APL cards. Eventhough suitable records are produced for converting their cards into BPL cards, the panchayat has not forwarded them, they alleged.

Rita Cutinha, panchayat president said that if that are discrepancies in the Mahatma Gandhi sheme, the ex PDO is responsible for it. She said that she has not taken job cards from anybody and asked them to ask those who have taken them. "BPL cards can be issued to those who have land but they should not have vehicles. The records for BPL cards are submitted. Some are already issued cards. PDO is responsible for them, the present PDO is rectifying those," she added.

The PDO came the a little later. Yadava Shetty took him to task. The PDO said that he needs time as he has joined only ten days ago. "As there are ups and downs in the land, it is difficult to set right the supply of water. However it will be set right soon," said former president Chandrahasa Sanil. Executive officer Vishwanath Poojary assured that the problems will be solved.

Former president Valerian Cutinha, Bharath, Sunil and others took part in the discussions.