Govt is committed to empower marginalised sections in society: Priyank Kharge

Mangaluru: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge said that the government will extend support for the ‘Hombelaku’, a sports and cultural meet for elected representatives and employees of urban local bodies and Gram Panchayats of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

The event is being organised under the aegis of Gram Swaraj Prathishtana led by MLC Manjunath Bhandari in association with Zilla Panchayats of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

Speaking after inaugurating the second edition of Hombelaku held at the Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management in Adyar, he said the government will look into the possibility of organising such events across the state.

"It is a matter of pride for all the gram panchayats in the state that the state tops in devolution of power to panchayats as per a study by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) and the Union Ministry of Panchayat Raj. The GP and ULB members and employees should follow five principles of response, coordination, time sense, effective implementation and accountability while serving the people. Sports help in developing team spirit and handling success and failures in life along with helping to develop a sense of brotherhood,” he said.

He emphasised the state's commitment to ensuring that marginalised sections of society are integrated into the mainstream and empowered. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will provide 13 crore mandays in the state during the year and will benefit 47 lakh job card holders. There are 3867 koosinamen benefiting nearly 50,000 children when their parents are at work under MGNREGS.

Under the 'Pragati Patha' scheme, rural roads will be systematically and qualitatively improved. The initiative plans to develop approximately 7,110 km of rural roads, covering 50 km in each of the 189 rural Assembly constituencies, with an estimated cost of Rs 5,190 crore. Further, the CM has released Rs 10 crore each to 189 constituencies to repair roads damaged in rain. As many as 5770 Arivu Kendras have been set up in rural areas where online and offline materials for all types of competitive exams are provided,” said the minister.

He said that there are 5712 solid waste management plants in the state. Of which, SWM plants are working effectively in DK and Udupi. All GPs have digital payment facilities. Rs 1100 crore tax has been collected in gram panchayats in the state, said Kharge.

Minister for Municipal Administration Rahim Khan said steps have to clear all the applications of property owners to get e-khata. Officials have been directed to hold a campaign in this regard. Deputy commissioners have been directed to monitor the process of issuing B-khata for properties in unauthorised layouts.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Chairman P M Narendra Swamy, MLC Kishore Kumar, MLAs Ashok Kumar, Umanath Kotian, Gurme Suresh Shetty, SCDCC Chairman Rajendra Kumar, President and Executive Director of Adani Kishore Alva and others were present. DK MP Capt Brijesh Chowta received a sports torch from Adyar GP PDO on the occasion.

GP and ULB members and employees presented a colourful march past bringing out the theme of “Grama Swarajya” and folk and tradition of Coast by bringing tradition of agriculture, fishing, kambala, cock fight through tableaux.