Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Nov 17: MLA, Gopal Bhandary, expressed his resentment at the inept functioning of the panchayat development officers (PDO), who were recently provided to gram panchayats for improving implementation of government schemes.

Addressing a meeting under Karnataka Development Programme held at the taluk panchayat premises here on Tuesday November 16, Bhandary mentioned that in the taluk,  a sum of two crore rupees had been spent under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme last year, duly pointing out that the amount spent so far has not exceeded Rs 30 lac as against the revised target of five crore rupees this year.

“The PDOs have been raising the issue of the need to scrupulously adhere to rules and laws in every aspect, and therefore, have failed in providing social justice to the people. This attitude is hurting the development potential of the gram panchayats. The inability of the PDOs to stand up to their expectations is proved by the fact that the local administration of Durg gram panchayat has passed a resolution stating that they do not need the PDO. We have to take this issue in all seriousness, and the PDOs will be held responsible if development of villages suffers,” he warned.

The MLA questioned the apathy of the officials in providing house numbers and residential certificates to the beneficiaries who have built houses in the sites allotted to them in the government land. Taluk panchayat executive officer, Rajendra Bekal, drew the attention of the MLA to the fact that the assistant commissioner had issued notices to gram panchayats, warning that criminal cases would be registered against officials, if they are found to be violating legal provisions and other guidelines. The MLA expressed his unhappiness about this notice, saying that the government had not come out with any such directives. He also asked the tahsildar to positively consider the issue of regularizing houses built by beneficiaries in places where no objections are pending, or of providing them with alternative house sites.

The meeting decided to take action against a number of officials who failed to attend the meeting.

MLA, H Gopal Bhandary, presided, Zilla panchayat vice president, Dr Santosh Kumar Shetty, taluk panchayat president, Uday S Kotian, zilla panchayat member, N B Babu, various officials, KDP members and others were present.