80 posts of PDOs lying vacant in Dakshina Kannada

Zilla panchayat deputy secretary Umesh said that 80 posts of panchayat development officers (PDOs) have been lying vacant in Dakshina Kannada, in addition to 35 grade I secretaries and 44 grade II secretaries in gram panchayats.

Speaking at the zilla panchayat meeting here on Monday, Umesh said, “We expect at least 70 PDOs/secretaries by January which is likely to ease the problem of shortage of staff. The recruitment of PDOs are on.”

Member Dhanalakshmi said that Harekala gram panchayat has no permanent PDO for the last six years. The gram panchayat has only an in charge secretary, who has the responsibility of two gram panchayats.

After two years, a gram sabha was held in Harekala recently which was not attended by the officials. The cheque books and receipt books of the gram panchayat has been misplaced and action should be initiated against irregularities in Harekala gram panchayat.

Manjula Madav Mave charged the officials of not attending gram sabha. To which, deputy secretary said that gram sabha should be attended mandatorily by the village-level officials. If the gram sabha requires taluk-level officials, then the officials should be well informed in advance.

Zilla panchayat chief executive officer M R Ravi said the officials should not remain absent to gram sabha intentionally.

Kinnigoli water project

The members also expressed displeasure at the inordinate delay in completion of Kinnigoli multi-village drinking water scheme. Executive engineer said that contractor has failed to complete the work. A proposal has been submitted to chief engineer to change the contractor to complete the 10% work. Though water is being supplied to 30 tanks under the scheme, the maintenance of water distribution system needs to be discussed.

ZP vice president Kasturi Panja said that maintenance committee has been constituted in 10 gram panchayats. However, gram panchayat PDOs have refused to hand over Rs 10,000 per year for the maintenance of the water distribution system, which needs to be sorted out.

ZP CEO said that there is a need to accelerate the work on the multi-village drinking water project on a priority basis. Member Shekar Kukkedi said that a government school teacher had discriminated students from SC/ST by offering them food on the courtyard of the house at Manimajalu in Sullia taluk.

He said that the teacher had taken 32 children to a housewarming ceremony, of which eight students were offered food outside the house. To which, DDPI Walter D’Mellow said that the said action has been initiated against the said teacher by suspending her.