Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Nov 17: Officials of the department of national highways said that an estimate amounting to Rs 99.46 crore had been prepared for the development of the highway between Karavali circle and Parkala, and this work has been tendered for Rs 73.6 crore. They further explained that in this respect, Rs 7.84 crore would be spent for land acquisition.

Lok Sabha member representing Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency, Shobha Karandlaje, issued instruction to complete all processes and works relating to national highway projects at the earliest. She was speaking after presiding over the review meeting of central government schemes (district development and coordination committee meeting) at the zilla panchayat auditorium here on Friday November 16.

She instructed the officials to bring to her notice if any of the projects relating to highways under central government are pending in the district. "A high level officer has been posted at Bengaluru by the central government for quickening the pace of highways in the state. Therefore, the officials have to continuously monitor any processes either before commencement of works or thereafter," she stated.

She asked the officials to give impetus to the four-laning of road between Udupi and Manipal, which has been taken up now. She also told them to see that potholes and patches on Karkala - Moodbidri - Mangaluru highway are filled and the road is maintained well. National highway officials, in response, said that grant has been released for this highway repair work, and assured to take up works without delay.

Shobha wanted the officials to release grants for which beneficiaries of housing schemes for the poor are eligible. She said she does not tolerate delay in this respect. She noted that there has been delay in issuing title deeds about possession of land under rule 94-c because of differences between revenue and forest departments. She asked these two departments to undertake joint survey towards redressal of differences.

"In every Lok Sabha constituency, health Melas are being organized. A sum of Rs 12 lac is being spent on each such Mela. We have planned to hold one such Mela in this district. All kinds of check ups would be conducted at these Melas, and information about r health schemes would be imparted," she explained.

Representative of banks said that on an experimental basis, cashless transactions have begun in ten gram panchayats. "But achievement of 100 percent is not possible as holding Adhar card is compulsory under the scheme. E-wallet scheme has been started in Kadur gram panchayat limits. 20 accounts have been opened and transactions are being put through. If this becomes successful, we will extend this scheme to other areas," he stated.

The district administration has decided to depute officials personally to the people to issue 94c and 9-11 certificates together. President of Alevoor panchayat, Srikanth, said that people who have been living in the sites since three decades have not succeeded in getting title deeds as surveys conducted by forest and revenue departments do not match with each other. People living in his panchayat limits are suffering because of this problem,he explained.

Deputy director of women and child development department, Gracy Gonsalves, explained that people do not visit Aganwadis to collect nutritious food. In villages where the Anganwadi is located far off, the system of sending food through tiffin boxes is being followed. Those who visit Anganwadis are being provided all kinds of nutritious food, she added. The MP expressed her disappointment at the failure of Matru Poorna scheme in reaching the beneficiaries in the state. She noted that the funds being spent on this scheme is being wasted. She expressed the view that the scheme itself is impractical.

Under the 'Matru Vandana' scheme of the central government, 52,000 beneficiaries have been identified in this district, and this district has won an award for this achievement. The scheme, 'Matrushree' which will be helpful for pregnant women, will be implemented soon. Under this scheme, the beneficiaries get an amount of Rs 6,000, she said. Under 'Sakhi one stop centre' 31 cases were handled, and facilities like personal counseling, rehabilitation, legal aid and police help have been extended. Gracy said that the staff of the scheme have not received their emoluments. She also said that discussions are on at the state level to begin call centers under the scheme, and to run this along with Sakhi centre jointly.

The district health officer wanted the MP to choose either Udupi or Chikkamagaluru district to implement the state government's 'Arogya Mahila' scheme meant for creating awareness among the women about their health and to convey to them details of government facilities. This is done through health camps, he stated. The MP said that it would be better to organize it at a spot where health problems of women have high prevalence.

The MP noted that this time, a pregnant woman and 68 newborns had died in the district of which 33 were male and 35 female. She also noted that 6 children were born without proper formation and seven children having low weight problem. The MP expressed resentment at this and asked heath officer to put up a report about this high incidence.

The officer said that under Ujjwala scheme, details of 35,977 families have bee recorded, applications in detail were filed by 18,976 beneficiaries and 15,110 have been susbcribed. 14,816 more Ujjwala connections are yet to be provided, he added.

Zilla panchayat president, Dinkar Babu, deputy commissioner, Priyanka Mary Francis, zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Shivanand Kapashi and others were present.