Provide clear data about projects, minister tells ZP officers

District level officers should be well-versed with statistics and should provide exact data and information instead of using ambiguous terms like ‘many’ and ‘majority’,  District incharge minister A Narayanaswamy said.

The minister, who presided over the quarterly Zilla Panchayat review meeting, said that those who do not work make use of vague words like ‘many’ and ‘majority’, while those who perform are ready with statistics.

War of words

Narayanaswamy fired a volley of questions relating to agriculture to Joint Deirector of Agriculture A C Nataraj - what are the programmes undertaken under Suvarna Bhoomi scheme, have the beneficiaries got money under various schemes, have your personally visited the farmers and how many times have your conducted farmers meeting in a month.

When Nataraj fumbled to reply, the minister said that as a district level officer he should have comprehensive data which should be collected from the junior officers. There is no point in coming to the review meeting if the officer did not have complete details, Narayanaswamy added.

Agricultural problems

Alleging failure of the Agriculture Department, the Chairman of the Standing Committee said that the rate and stocks of fertilisers was not displayed in the market. “Traders sold fertilizers at a higher price.”

The minister said action should be taken against traders who cheated farmers. Frequent meetings of farmers should be held and their grievances redressed, he added.

The minister who reviewed the progress of the Education department said that water should be provided to all the primary and high schools in the district besides toilet facilities.

He said under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme compound walls should be erected in schools.

Chief whip in the Legislative Council A H Shivayogiswamy, MLC Y A Narayanswamy, legislator K P Bachchegowda and V Muniyappa were present.