'Govt changes Ashraya scheme rules'

 “Rules pertaining to the selection of beneficiaries under the ‘Ashrya’ Scheme has been changed by the government. Accordingly, a person can avail scheme benefit, even if the site belongs to his wife,” said Zilla Panchayat President Santhosh Kumar Bhandary.

Addressing officials at a monthly KDP meet at the Zilla Panchayat Hall here on Thursday, Bhandary said that as per the previous rules, the beneficiary (wife) should possess site and the title deed should be in her name. Now the rules have been relaxed that women can avail the benefits of the scheme even if husband possesses the title deed for the land, he said adding that the last date for filing application under the scheme has been extended to February 28.

Reviewing the performance of each departments with regard to implementation of government schemes in the district, ZP CEO P Shivashankar said that those departments which have registered below 80 per cent performance in scheme implementation should strive to achieve the goal. Officials should work hard and ensure that the scheme allotments are not lapsed by the end of the financial year, he added.

17,340 children out of school
Shivashankar informed that 17,340 children between the age group of 6 - 18 years remained out of schools in the district in the year 2009-10. Quoting the recent survey conducted under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), he said that 692 children between the age group of 6 - 14 years remained out of school. Those children who fail to attend classes for more than three months are considered as drop outs, he said adding that the survey has been conducted in 4.17 lakh familes in the district.
SSA Deputy Project Co-ordinator N Shivaprakash said that of the 17,340 children 8,934 are boys and 8,406 are girls. Number of students between the age group of 15- 18 years, who left schools at PUC levels is 16,648, he added.
Discussing about Bhagyajyoti Scheme, CEO asked Executive Officers of all taluks in the district that electricity should be provided to all applicants including those who belong to below 16 meter category and above 16 meter category. Further, he asked all EOs to submit report to the ZP.
Karnataka Minorities and D Devaraju Arasu Backward Communities Development Corporation District Manager Somappa said that a State-level tender has been invited to dig 167 borewells in the district.
The last date for the submission of tender is February 17, he added.
DH News Service