Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, May 9: Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary has termed the coalition government in Karnataka a ‘failure’ for not being able to manage the drought situation that has affected the state.

“A drought report should be submitted before May 20, as it was ordered. Let CM work on distributing necessary drought relief funds after conducting the review meetings,” he told reporters at Udupi Press Club on May 9.

“The common people are worried. The entire administration has collapsed. The people representatives of local municipality are yet to get power in their hands, even though eight months have passed after the election. The government is cheating them,” he alleged.

“Not a single meeting on drought management and flood control has taken place at the grama panchayat level. Excuses that code of conduct is preventing them to hold meetings are given,” he said.

Poojary pointed out that the Election Commission of India has passed a circular on April 8 that the respective authorities can be pass work orders, invite tenders and finalize tenders after April 23, which are related to providing basic infrastructure, developmental works and purchasing of goods and services.

According to a circular issued on April 22, the ECI permitted to conduct committee meetings, board, commission, and local body institution meetings including legislative meeting after April 23.

According to the May 6 circular issued to Karnataka, ECI permitted chief minister, deputy chief minister and ministers to conduct review meetings with deputy commissioners, other concerned officials on measures to be taken in drought affected areas, through video conference.

“The above said ministers can arrange meetings exempting election duty officials, returning officers, AROs, and few others,” he said.

“Central government has introduced a scheme of providing 10% reservation for poor school children in all educational institutions. But the Karnataka government did not implement the scheme so for. Hence, as many as 60,000 poor students will be deprived of education this year. The government should take the schemes seriously. Around 15 other states have been already implemented it,” he said.

The number of beneficiaries (seats) under Right To Education (RTE) has been decreased from 1,20,000 to just 10,000 in the state. Kota strongly condemned the decision. Let the government clear the confusions with regard to RTE, he demanded.