TP members urge executive officer to furnish proper action plan

Issues of non-release of grants and cancellation of BPL ration cards echoed in the taluk panchayat general meeting on Tuesday.

Member Prakash alleged that the taluk panchayat had failed to send a proper action plan, which would result in the under-utilisation of grants. A lot of grants, including the13th Finance Commission grants and local area development grants, have not been released by the government, as the action plan has not been furnished by the panchayat. Four executive officers (EO) have been transferred in a span of seven months, which was also a cause for the irregularity.

Executive Officer Gopalakrishna Bhat said that the action plan prepared by his predecessor contained several loopholes. He promised to take necessary action to rectify the error and to send the action plan soon.

Member Vajrakshi Shetty said that in the previous year, several grants had lapsed due to the negligence of taluk panchayat officials.

Raising the issue, taluk panchayat member Prakash said that many ration cards belonging to BPL families have been cancelled by the Food and Civil Supplies Department, although the BPL cardholders were eligible. When asked, the officials from the department have asked people to apply fresh. But the application submitted have been pending.

Taluk Panchayat Social Justice Standing Committee President Mohammed Yusuf suggested passing a resolution against the officials concerned, who are responsible for the delay in the distribution of BPL cards.

Taluk panchayat member Revamma said that in Beluvai limits, white rice, which was supposed to be supplied to people within 1st and 10th of November, was not supplied. Instead, the rice was supplied on 11th.

“When some people went to the fairprice shop the next day, the rice was not provided and was distributed on November 14. Moreover, boiled rice was provided instead of white rice and the people were told that there was no white rice in stock. How did the stock of white rice go empty, after distributing it for only a day?” she questioned.

The issue of regularisation of lands under 90-CC was also discussed at the meeting.

TP President Rajani, Vice-President Prakash, Moodbidri Tahsildar Issac Mohammed, Mangalore Tahsildar Shivashanker were present.