The numbers are official- mentioned in the report submitted by Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat to the District Vigilance and In-charge Committee chaired by MP D V Sadananda Gowda. It was the turn of Mr Gowda to be disappointed greatly at the achievements of different taluks in this regard during a meeting to review the progress of Central government sponsored schemes held at Zilla Panchayat auditorium here on Friday.
Reviewing the progress achieved undr Indira Awas Yojana, Mr Gowda came down heavily on the TP Executive Officers for not making proper follow-ups in connection with the scheme. As per the information furnished in the report, out of 677 houses sanctioned to the district in 2006-07, only 166 have been constructed, keeping 511 pending as on April 1, 2007.
The number of houses taken up in 2007-08 is 756, thus making them 1,267 in total. After the construction of 133 houses, a total of 1,134 houses still await their completion in Dakshina Kannada. Out of the completed houses, 66 are for SC/STs and 67 for the general category.
The EOs clarified that they were busy in various duties like revision of voters list and such, but they had no answer when Mr Gowda asked them what they were doing before that. Amidst this, the Taluk Panchayat presidents present in the meeting complained that they were not being informed about any progress achieved through schemes like Indira Awas.
Mr Gowda asked the EOs to keep on informing the president and vice-president of the Taluk Panchayat about the schemes being implemented through the TP from time to time and stressed on the need to take them into faith.
Minimum wages
While going through the compliance report of the previous meeting, Mr Sadananda Gowda said efforts were on to increase the minimum wages to be given in National Employment Guarantee Scheme in Dakshina Kannada to Rs 125.
Presently, the amount has been fixed as Rs 74, but there are demands that the specification is Rs 125 in the neighbouring Kasaragod, hence the same facility should be extended to DK too, he informed.
Chief Executive Officer A M Kunjappa said the scheme would be implemented from April as per the government guidelines, when priority would be given to the upgradation of roads and drains. A circular has been received from the government that the workers need not open an account with a bank if they have to receive their wages under SGRY scheme, which was mandatory earlier, he clarified.
Watershed development
Mr Gowda said they had received a study report from the Watershed Department regarding the problems faced in Belthangady taluk in implementing its schemes, and advised to take measures after discussing the same with Taluk Panchayat, ZP CEO and the ZP member of the area.
Social Forestry has taken measures to distribute about 22,880 plants this year through Vana Samvardhana Trust, informed the officials from Forest Department. While, ZP CEO Mr Kunjappa informed that government approval has been received for Rs 16.47 crore project under Sampoorna Swacchata Andolan and letter has been written for the release of the same.
ZP President K P Sucharitha Shetty and Vice-President Jayashri Kodandur were present.
