Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Jul 17: “Though it has been two months since schools reopened, in Sajipa Nadu School no science and mathematics classes have been taking place as BSc and BEd teachers have not been deputed. Hence, SSLC students have been suffering a lot,” said Mamatha Gatty, zilla panchayat member, while speaking at the eighth general body meeting of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat held at Netravathi Hall on Monday July 16.
She urged immediate deputation of science and mathematics teachers at the school. She also pointed out that in some cases more teachers are deputed even though the students are less while schools with more students are given fewer teachers. “All thanks to insufficient honorariums given in schools in rural areas while compared to English medium schools in urban areas,” she added.
ZP CEO Dr K N Vijayprakash assured that a commission will be formed to meet the education minister to sort the issue out. Another ZP member Chandrakala complained that in Perinje School near Naravi, text books have not been distributed. ZP president K T Shailaja Bhat instructed the block education officer of the region to look into the issue.
In response to a grievance by another ZP member Devaraj about non-availability of grocery items for mid day meal scheme in schools, the CEO firmly said that ‘unnecessary’ delays should not occur in mid day meal schemes and said that monthly tender method which was revised from previous annual tender method could be replaced again.
M S Mohammed, ZP member (Congress) said that in Kolnadu gram panchayat of Bantwal taluk a poor Koraga family has taken shelter in a primary health center. He questioned the realization of giving sites to as many as 489 Koraga families who are without any land. ZP president Shailaja Bhat said that social welfare officers have prepared a list of landless Koraga families and submitted the same to respective tahsildars and a meeting will be convened by the DC for further actions.
Santhosh Kumar Rai, ZP member (BJP), speaking about irregularities in Ira gram panchayat said that panchayat development officer (PDO) should be suspended and investigation should be thoroughly conducted.
ZP member Thulasi said that when the district level officers including the DC visited naxal infested areas in Belthangady, they had assured of employment opportunities for the few villagers. Few names of beneficiaries were also announced by the tahsildar on merit basis; however nothing has happened raising suspicion that such announcements are made merely to create headlines in newspapers. Chandrakala added that solar lights which were given two months ago are not in working condition and not repaired. CEO Dr Vijayprakash assured that the matter will be brought to the notice of the DC and said that a special package of Rs 5 cr if granted, could result in effective implementation of the scheme in naxal infested regions as per the action plan.
There was a turmoil during the meeting over the issue of Rs 25 lac grant assured to each ZP member for action plan of various projects. M S Mohammed raised the issue and said that when the grant was announced, BJP members went on to praise the government, however, the said amount of money has still not been released. ZP CEO said that out of an actual amount of Rs 10 cr sanctioned, Rs 3.33 cr has been released. Tenders have been called for 224 projects. There was a demand for a vehicle to Sullia taluk panchayat raj engineering sub-division as a rent of Rs 4.50 lac was pending for the vehicle that was taken on contract basis.
Dhanalakshmi Janardhan, vice-president of ZP, Ishwar Kateel, Standing Committee on Education and Health, and Nazeer, planning officer, were also present.