Cap on LPG will affect schools and anganwadis, say officials

State may step in to help, indicates minister

District-in-Charge Minister C T Ravi, on Monday, said that the State government will have to work out a strategy to ensure the smooth LPG supply for anganawadi centres, schools and hostels that serve mid-day meals to students.

He was reacting to complaints from officials that the six cylinder cap on subsidised LPG was applicable to anganawadis and schools, at the Karnataka Development Programmes review meeting of Mangalore taluk at Taluk Panchayat hall.

The Deputy Commissioner who was present at the meeting confirmed that the district administration has received a letter from the authorities concerned that six cylinder ceiling is applicable to anganawadis, schools and hostels. Recently, the Central government had announced that it proposed to supply only six LPG cylinders at subsidised cost.

The minister said that the issue was important and limited supply of subsidised cylinders would affect schools and anganawadis where food has to be prepared for large number of people.

The government will discuss  the issue  and take appropriate action to ensure  that schools , anganawadis and hostels are not affected, said the District-in-Charge Minister.

Book atrocity cases

On receiving complaints regarding misappropriation in the implementation of Ganga Kalyana Yojana in Mangalore taluk, Ravi ordered registering atrocity cases against the officers in Mangalore taluk Social Welfare Department, for misappropriation.

 “Stringent action should be taken against those who have failed to implement the project for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Failing to meet the requirements of SC/ STs is no less than a crime,” said the Minister.

Anganawadi buildings

Child Development Project Officer of Mangalore city said that of the 228 anganawadis that are functioning in the city limits, only 63 anganawadis have their own buildings, while rest of them are functioning from rental buildings or in make-shift arrangements.

Though 11 sites have been identified for the purpose, the CDPO has not received permission from the MCC to construct the buildings, the officer said.

In response, Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr K Harish Kumar said that land could be allotted for the purpose.

The Minister asked the MCC Commissioner to identify more land for the anganawadi building. The CDPO rural officer said that 102 anganawadis in rural areas too did not own buildings.

When MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and ZP Standing Committee President Eshwar Kateel said that the sale of illicit liquor is rampant in the taluk, the Minister directed the Excise Department Inspector to close down the unauthorised shops at the earliest, failing which he warned of taking stringent action.

Expressing unhappiness over the slow progress in the implementation of housing schemes in the taluk, C T Ravi asked for the submission of technical reports from the concerned authorities.