Unfilled PDO posts block development works in DK

Unfilled PDO posts block development works in DK

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 26 2016: Reports indicate that posts of PDO, Panchayat Development Officers and secretaries in many gram panchayats are vacant and this is affecting development works in gram panchayats of Dakshina Kannada district.

Eighteen of forty one gram panchayats in Puttur taluk, tare unfilled. Posts of secretary is lying vacant in five panchayats while three gram panchayats have neither a PDO nor a secretary. The post of secretary is vacant in eight other gram panchayats as the responsibility has been deputed to other gram panchayats.

The post of PDO is vacant at Badagannuru, Bettampady, Bilinele, Golithottu, Hirebandadi, Kaniyoor, Kolthige, Kombaru, Kaukradi, Mardala, Nekkilady, Nelyadi, Panaje, Perabe, Savanooru, Shiradi, Konaje and Keyyur gram panchayats. The posts of secretary are vacant in Shiradi, Aithooru, Narimogaru, Kedambady, Nettanige, Mudnoor, Panaje, and Kudippady gram panchayats. The posts of both PDO and secretary are vacant at Shidari, Panaje and Hirebandadi GPs. The PDOs of 34 Nekkilady, Bajathooru, Golithottu and Bannur gram panchayats have been given charges of another gram panchayat as well.

Bannur and Kutruppady GP secretaries have been deputed to Zilla Panchayat office in Mangaluru while the Koil GP secretary has been deputed to Mangaluru Taluk Panchayat office. Bilinele GP secretary has been deputed to Sullia. Aithooru GP PDO Shyam Prasad and Guthigaru GP PDO Jayaraj had exchanged their places of work on mutual understanding. After coming to Aithooru, Jayaraj has taken a long leave, citing health issues. Accordingly, the post is vacant.

The post of Hirebandadi GP PDO is vacant and Golithottu PDO has been given additional charge of Hirebandadi. The Golithottu PDO Thirupathi, however, received transfer order to Bengaluru rural ZP office recently. As a result, the post of Hirebandadi and Golithottu PDOs both will remain vacant. On the other hand, Hirebandadi GP secretary Bhavani is on six months maternity leave. With this, both the posts of secretary and PDO will remain vacant.

On the vacant post, Aithooru GP President Sathish Poojary said, "Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the PDO has to visit the beneficiaries’ houses and verify thrice. While constructing houses under housing schemes, the PDO has to visit the spot at least four times before sanctioning the bill. In such a scenario, how will the development work be initiated without the presence of a PDO in a gram panchayat. In addition, with over 20 gram panchayats offering 100 different utility services, the presence of GP PDO and secretary is essential. Without the concerned officer, how will the villagers avail of the utility services."

Shiradi GP president agreed that, with the post of PDO and secretary lying vacant, the development works have come to a standstill. "The PDOs in-charge will have to pay attention to the works in two gram panchayats. They do not get time to write even the resolutions passed in the general meetings. In this background, how will they implement the resolutions passed in the GP meeting effectively?"

ZP Deputy Secretary Umesh made a statement that out of 230 GPs, the posts of PDOs are vacant in 80 GPs. The process of recruitment of PDOs is on. With this, 48 posts will be filled. In addition, 17 Bill Collectors will promoted to Secretary. With this, the problem is likely to be solved in the future.