Zilla Panchayat meet demanded that the Centre delegate the responsibility of implementing Prime Minister’s relief package for farmers in distress to local bodies. Common meet of ZP held in the City on Wednesday also passed a resolution in this regard.
   Raising the issue, member Basavarajappa said that farmers have fallen into financial crisis due to loans borrowed for the purpose of irrigation and purchase of implements. Agrarian problems differ region-wise and persons incharge of implementing the package should take into account these factors, he remarked. Basavarajappa also demanded for responsible role of local bodies in implementing the package and demanded the meet to pass a resolution in this regard.
   Supporting the argument, member Jayant said that lapses in implementing the scheme can be avoided by assigning the responsibility of implementation for local bodies. Highlighting the lacunae in implementation of the scheme, he said that action plan is designed by officials in Bangalore who are naive of ground realities. Referring to decision of involving Karnataka Milk Federation in the scheme, he said that though it was planned to provide financial assistance to women farmers to purchase cattle, still the process of identifying beneficiaries is on. Also funds for de-silting tanks and water bodies are released to major irrigation division in Department of Water Resource. Such lapses can be avoided by assigning the responsibility of implementing the scheme to Zilla Panchayat and other local bodies, he observed.
   Referring to the incident where 2 daily wage workers were injured while lifting water from sump constructed for rain water harvesting in Government school at Adderi village in Hosanagar taluk, Congress members demanded compensation for injured workers. Alleging of irregularities in implementing works related to rain water harvesting, members demanded for probe into the same. Participating in the debate, CEO Dr Bore Gowda said that since work was undertaken without availing work permit from concerned authorities, contractor has been asked to compensate the injured workers. Expressing dissatisfaction about violation of norms in the issue, President Sharada Pooryanaik said that explanation will be sought from concerned School development committee and head master of the school.
   Regarding the demand for transferring teachers serving in Government school at Shivappa Nayaka Circle of Sagar taluk for their misbehaviour, Deputy Director of Public Instruction Mr Chauhan informed that report will be sought from Block Education Officer based on which action will be taken.
   When issues of shortage of medicines in Department of Animal Husbandry came up for discussion in the meeting, Deputy Director Dr Ravindra informed that proposal has been sent to the State Government seeking additional grants. He also informed that cattle in the district are vaccinated against foot and mouth disease and other common ailments. Vice President Bhimaneri Shivappa, MLC Mir Azeez Ahmed and others took part in the meeting.