Mandya ZP CEO emphasises commitment for efficient governance at grassroots level

Zilla Panchayat CEO K.R. Nandini addressing a PDO grievance redressal meeting in Mandya on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Mandya Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) K.R. Nandini has said that Gram Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) and taluk panchayat executive officers must work with commitment and integrity for transparent and efficient governance at the grassroots level.

Addressing a PDO grievance redressal meeting in Mandya, Ms. Nandini emphasised the importance of public service and said officials must take pride in their duties.

“Several PDOs in the district have demonstrated a good performance. To encourage the officials, health check-ups will be conducted every six months, and awards will be presented to outstanding performers,” she added.

Ms. Nandini said that over 17,500 children had been registered for summer camps organised across Gram Panchayats in the district. “This shows the coordination and discipline among the officials.”

Stressing the importance of addressing field-level challenges, Ms. Nandini said PDOs and panchayat staff are being encouraged to voice their concerns freely. Taluk panchayat executive officers have been instructed to hold monthly open-house discussions to address the grievances of PDOs. “If issues remain unresolved at the taluk level, they must be escalated to the district level for redressal,” she said.

Expressing concern over repeated violations of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) norms, she directed PDOs to strictly adhere to the 60:40 ratio while preparing action plans and ensure that expenditures are made as per decisions taken during the general body meetings. “Compliance with KTPP rules and the financial code is mandatory,” she noted.

She said that nodal officers must be available at the district headquarters every Monday and Thursday between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to hear public complaints.

Prashanth Babu, president of the Karnataka State Panchayat Development Officers’ Welfare Association, Mandya District, described the grievance-handling meeting as a positive step towards resolving field-level challenges. However, he raised concern over delays in salary disbursement, urging that PDOs’ salaries are credited by the 5th of every month.

Published - June 07, 2025 06:40 pm IST