Hans News Service Bengaluru

KarnatakaRural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has directed all Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) to ensure that no rural family is forced to migrate due to drought-like conditions, and to provide employment locally under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).

Chairing a review meeting with the Chief Secretary, senior department officials and Zilla Panchayat CEOs at Vikas Soudha on Friday, the Minister instructed officials to provide employment to five lakh rural workers every month and significantly accelerate implementation of rural infrastructure works from August onwards.

Khandre said the Central Government has allocated Rs5,709 crore for the nine-month period from July 1 to March 31, while the State Government will contribute Rs3,806 crore, taking the total available funds under the scheme to Rs9,515 crore.

“With the available allocation, we have sufficient resources to provide employment to nearly five lakh people every month. However, the progress during July has not been satisfactory. From August, officials must take up development works on a war footing, create durable community assets and ensure employment for landless labourers and economically weaker sections so that migration from villages is prevented,” he said.

The Minister warned officials against any irregularities in the implementation of the scheme. He instructed CEOs to ensure that no eligible worker is denied employment and cautioned that strict action would be taken against officials involved in fake billing, financial irregularities or poor-quality works.

Khandre also asked Taluk Executive Officers and Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) to ensure transparency and accountability in the execution of projects.

He directed officials to utilise MGNREGS funds for the repair of dilapidated government school buildings, construction of additional classrooms and compound walls, in coordination with the School Education Department.

The Minister further instructed officials to issue job cards to all eligible beneficiaries whose cards had been cancelled and to give priority in employment to women-headed households, persons with disabilities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and economically disadvantaged families.

Expressing concern over districts that have lagged behind in employment generation and asset creation, Khandre warned the concerned CEOs to immediately convene Gram Sabha meetings, obtain approvals for pending works and improve performance.

He also proposed utilising government-acquired but unused land for cultivating green fodder under community works to help manage drought conditions and provide fodder for livestock. In areas where government land is unavailable, he suggested leasing private land for fodder cultivation. He also emphasised the need to undertake borewell recharge works as part of drought mitigation efforts.

Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, who participated in the meeting, suggested that MGNREGS could also be used for constructing fishery sheds, cattle sheds and sheep shelters in coordination with the Animal Husbandry Department. She further recommended partnering with the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to expand fodder cultivation in drought-affected regions.

The meeting was attended by Rural Development Department Secretary Sameer Shukla, Commissioner Divya Prabhu, district officials and Chief Executive Officers from across the state.