Karnataka revenue officials to stay overnight in villages

Karnataka revenue officials will spend every third Saturday of the month in a village interacting with people and addressing issues.

The programme will begin on February 20 with deputy commissioners, tahsildars, surveyors and all revenue officials concerned will stay overnight in villages.

Revenue Minister R Ashoka himself will spend a night at Hosahalli in Doddaballapur.

During their visits, officials will address any issue falling under the ambit of the revenue department such as land, pensions, BPL cards or other services. "There are 227 tahsildars in the state. Each month, 227 villages will be covered," Ashoka said.

According to the minister, officials have been directed to address all issues on the spot without making citizens visit DC offices for a follow up.

"Officials will have to spend a night in the village in a hostel or an anganwadi. This will help them get acquainted with the problems first-hand. That way, if there are infrastructure issues in these buildings, officials will immediately address them," Ashoka said.

He added that he had directed all officials not to spend money on logistics for the same. "They will have to make do with whatever is available in the village. Female officials have been permitted to stay in anyone's home in the village, taking their safety into account," he said.

As for his own visit to Hosahalli, he would be interacting with Dalits in the village and then staying in a government hostel later at night.

Ashoka also said the new 'Navodaya' app will be used for pension payments. Based on the ration card details, the government will identify beneficiaries taking into account their age and income. Officials will collect photos and other relevant information from beneficiaries at their doorsteps and issue pension certificates. The pensions will be transferred to the bank accounts later.

Through this, the government hopes to cull out bogus accounts, Ashoka said. As of now, the government pays pension to 69 lakh people and spends Rs 7,500 each year. Each year, about 4 lakh new beneficiaries are added.

On Food & Civil Supplies Minister Umesh Katti's statement on ration card holders, Ashoka said owning a TV and mobile phone cannot be the basis to decide BPL. Katti had said households with a TV, fridge and bike will be asked to return the BPL cards. "He might have said that in some context. He's not against the poor," Ashoka defended.