Sheena Shetty is the district’s first Ombudsman

Sheena Shetty is the district’s first Ombudsman

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, August 13: Sheena Shetty, the director of Jana Shikshana Trust, took over as the district ombudsman under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act on Thursday. He is the district’s first ombudsman and the only social worker among 6 ombudsmen appointed for the state’s five districts.

 

 

 

Mr. Shetty told reporters that he intends to spread awareness on the scheme to the remotest Gram Panchayath because this is an effective scheme, which has the power to transform rural India. Regarding the possibilities of corruption in the implementation of the programme, he said that one should work toward preventing misappropriation of funds rather than holding enquires later for alleged misappropriation. Citing the example of NREGS, he said that DK was nowhere in the list when the scheme had made a mark, owing to which it had been written off as an unsuitable programme.

During his two-year term, Mr. Shetty says that he wants to make DK a model district for MGNREGS implementation.

Since the ombudsman has quasi judicial powers, people can submit writing complaints, which the ombudsman will forward to the concerned officials. The official will have to take action within a week. The ombudsman is also free to take action on the issue, investigate, and recommend actions.