Mangalore: Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat President Koragappa Naik has directed to pass a resolution seeking action against the Gram Panchayats which do not earmark or utilise three per cent funds meant for the welfare of handicapped.

In the monthly KDP meet held in Zilla Panchayat on Monday, the ZP chief observed that several Gram Panchayats including Narimogru, Uppinangadi, Panaje, Shiradi and Koila have not reserved three per cent of government grants in various government since 2009. Noting that the Gram Panchayats have violated government orders, Naik expressed his displeasure over the negligent attitude of the Taluk Panchayats and held the Taluk Panchayat Executive Officers responsible for the failure. Belthangadi and Sullia Taluk Panchayats have not included the grants in the action plan, he said.

On the contrary, the Puttur Taluk Panchayat has submitted false statistics that Rs 8,500 has been utilised for handicapped, without reserving any funds. How is it possible to utilise the grants without reserving the same or including it in the action plan, Koragappa Naik questioned and warned Taluk Panchayat Executives not to give fake statistics to the ZP.

He meanwhile directed to pass a resolution from Zilla Panchayat to the government seeking serious action against the faulty TP executives.

Issue on PDOs carrying the laptop belonging to Gram Panchayat with them while transfer, was raised in the KDP meet. ZP President said he had come across instances where some PDOs use the Gram Panchayat laptop for personal use by taking it to their home. Education and Health Standing Committee President Asha Thimmappa Gowda said that if the PDOs carry their laptop while transfer, the information regarding the Gram Panchayat works, stored in the laptop, will be inaccessible and it will be a great difficulty to retrieve the information.

ZP CEO Thulsi Maddineni said that the PDOs have to submit the laptop to the respective Taluk Panchayat EO, if they are transferred to other district. Koragappa Naik said that laptop is the asset of Gram Panchayat and the PDOs should not carry it along with them either to home or to the transferred place. While transfer within the district, the PDOs should hand it over to the GP, he said.

Regarding solid waste management in taluks, ZP CEO said that 17 Solid Waste Management units have been sanctioned and the estimate has been submitted. She directed the Taluk Panchayat Executive Official to invite the tenders in this regard.

Students from Mundaje who went to participate in national-level Kabaddi tournament in Madhya Pradesh were compelled to stand during the entire travel in train, as their return ticket was not confirmed. It was the duty of the department concerned to make sure that necessary facilities were provided to them. But the error by the department caused a great inconvenience to the students, said Zilla Panchayat  President Koragappa Naik. He meanwhile directed the department official concerned to look into the matter.

The ZP President said that the contract work has been carried out in organisations in the name of outsourcing. The labourers should be paid minimum wages along with service charges, according to labour law, which, unfortunately is not being followed.  In ZP itself, 14 persons have been deployed on outsourcing basis. Surprisingly, 21 bills towards the payment are being made, Koragappa Naik said and questioned where are the rest of the seven bills are going to. ZP CEO  said she will look into the matter.

Koragappa Naik said it is a shame that Rs five crore grants towards the development of Naxal infested areas, sanctioned during the tenure of D V Sadananda Gowda as the chief minister, has not been utilised yet and directed the officials concerned to follow up the progress.

Agriculture and Industries Standing Committee President Jayashree and Zilla Panchayat Vice President Rithesh Shetty were also present.