Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 21: State secretary of Savayava Krishi Pariwara organization, Balasubrahmanya, made a fervent demand for the ouster of Ujire panchayat administration because of corrupt activities in which it has been indulging in.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday October 20, he informed that eight complaints have already been filed in Lokayukta about irregularities in the affairs of Ujire gram panchayat after collecting details under Right to Information Act.

'Quorum of 100 people has been made mandatory for holding of gram sabha but in Ujire gram panchayat, decisions taken at gram sabhas with the presence of even 40 to 50 people have been implemented. Action plans are not being prepared in gram sabhas. Shops owned by the panchayat have been rented out without following the procedure of holding auction. The beneficiaries for the house sites, who should have been chosen at the gram sabha, were selected by gram panchayat members themselves. Although the ombudsman has already ordered for recovering Rs 64,000 wrongly paid under employment guarantee scheme, this order has not been complied with,' he alleged.

Balasubrahmanya said that details of resolutions sent to the government listing out the names of beneficiaries has not been found recorded in the book of proceedings concerned, while one of the notes in the file says meeting was held at the same time at two different places. He alleged that the panchayat administration has been coming to the rescue of building that are standing on the drains of effluents treatment unit. The other irregularities listed out by him include payment of wages under employment guarantee scheme to persons working in private organizations and those living in far off places, execution of contract works by panchayat members, non-submission of report sought by zilla panchayat relating to renting out of shop premises.

Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike president, Hanumanth Kamath, was present at the press conference.