Taluk panchayat prez takes PDOs to task over misuse of SC/ST funds

Taluk Panchayat president Nyakenahalli Suresh, during the meeting held at TP auditorium here on Saturday took the GP officials to task over the misuse of the grants reserved for the welfare of SC/ST communities. He had convened the officials of 26 GPs to discuss about the utilisation of the grants reserved for the welfare of SC/ST communities at TP auditorium.

During the meeting, it was found that a few GPs have not bothered to set aside the grants for SC/STs or divert the grants for various other purposes. The PDOs of Hunaseghatta, Huchchgondanahalli, Gurugadahalli, Honnavalli and Nonavinakere GPs told the meeting that no grants have been reserved for SC/ST welfare activities for the past few years. To which, the TP president took the PDOs to task and told them to reserve 25% of grants for the welfare of SC/ST communities.

We cannot achieve comprehensive development if the schemes formulated by the government for the welfare of Dalits are not implemented properly, the TP president said and added that the panchayat officials should take steps to set aside the grants for the welfare of Dalits and utilise the same effectively. Nyakenahalli Suresh told TP EO to take strict disciplinary action against the panchayat officials if they do not comply with the guidelines laid down by the government in this regard.

The TP president lambasted the PDOs of Masavanaghatta, Nellikere and Rangapur for their failure to provide proper information about the works and schemes being implemented in the respective GPs. He warned them of complaining to ZP CEO if they fail to discharge their duties properly in future. Suresh questioned the Gurugadahalli GP PDO over the diversion of SC/ST grants for other categories. In reply, the PDO said that he acted following the letter issued by the dalits of Shivara village.

The TP president told the PDO to act as per the guidelines laid down by the government. TP vice-president Nonavinakere Shankar complained that he has not been invited to the grama vastvaya (village stay) and told the PDOs and EO not to repeat the mistake. TP EO Kumaraswamy, Social Welfare Officer Shankarmurthy and others were present.