Mangalore : Zilla Panchayat President Koragappa Naik has directed the officials to ensure that three per cent fund is earmarked in all the local bodies, in their annual action plans, for the welfare of persons with disabilities.

Chairing the monthly Karnataka Development Programmes (KDP) review meeting here on Tuesday, he said that Bantwal taluk has not earmarked the fund.

In Mangalore taluk, three to four gram panchayats have not set aside the funds. The government officials are violating the government order.

The officials should ensure that the funds are mandatorily earmarked and utilised effectively.

Department of disabled and senior citizens welfare officer Chandrika said that in a move to encourage visually-impaired students to go for higher education, the State government has decided to distribute laptops free of cost to such students who continue their studies after 10th standard.

The State government is yet to issue the guidelines on the same. Once the guidelines are issued, we will start identifying the beneficiaries.

ZP CEO Thulasi Maddineni and President directed the official to issue a circular to all the 203 gram panchayats on the utilisation of funds earmarked for the welfare of physically challenged persons.

The Department of Public Instruction should ensure that no student (Std to Std 9) will be deprived of education or remains out of the school during the present academic year, Chief Executive Officer said. 

The President said that the Gram Panchayat PDOs should not take the laptops from the gram panchayat, if they are transferred to other gram panchayat. Laptops are the property of the gram panchayat.

The documents of one gram panchayat can not be used in another gram panchayat.

Replying to it, the CEO said that laptops have not been given to all the PDOs in 203 gram panchayats in the district.

All those PDOs who have been promoted do not know to operate laptops.

Hence, the laptops have to be taken by the PDOs when they are transferred.

However, the ZP President directed the CEO to ensure that laptops are in the gram panchayat itself.

Koragappa Naik directed the officials from KRDL to ensure that the work on solid waste management units are initiated as the waste generated should be managed scientifically at the gram panchayat level.

The Health department, Mines and Geology should work in coordination and issue NOC after inspecting the land for the unit.

The official from health department said that the health officials including ASHA workers will create awareness on the spread of communicable diseases among people from June 5.

A circular will be issued to all the gram panchayats to maintain cleanliness in piggery and polutry units.

In a move to weed out bogus ration cards, the Food and Civil Supplies Department has made it mandatory for all ration cards holders in the State to register their Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) number.

The ration card holders who got their cards before 2010 and have not renewed it should furnish the EPIC, said Food and Civil Supplies Deputy Director Sharanabasappa.

When the issue of foul smell of rice after it is cooked in hostels was raised, the DD said that the sack of the rice can be replaced from the suppliers.

On poor pass percentage in SSLC, the ZP CEO directed the DDPI to ensure that dull students are given re-exam after conduting remedial teaching in April.

Those who pass in the re-exam should be admitted to the tenth standard, to maintain quality.