The issue of the controversial elections of Standing Committees continued to be at the centre of discourse with heated debates and allegations flung during the meeting of Mangalore Taluk Panchayat held in Mangalore on Wednesday.
A total of 16 members of the 37-member strong panchayat submitted a letter to the zilla panchayat and the president of the taluk panchayat, K. Harish, seeking that the selection of Vajrakshi Shetty as the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Justice and the selection of Mr. Harish as the Chairperson of the Financial Audit Standing Committee be nullified.
The issue had been contentious as the standing committee elections were held on November 27 though there was no quorum at the meet as Congress members kept away from the meeting following an argument.
Prakash D., from Congress, said: “There has been a violation of the law and the president and the vice-president are to be blamed for it for not having informed the election officer of the situation preceding the voting.” Responding to the allegations, Mr. Harish said all the rules had been adhered to and if the zilla panchayat issued directions in this regard, they would be followed.
Fund allocation
Later, an official from the Department of Women and Child Development demanded that Rs. 1 lakh, for repairs at the Katipalla anganwadi, be allocated to the Jyothi Nagar anganwadi in Moodbidri.
The members accused the Department of sidelining rural anganwadis.
The members demanded clarity in the DWCD’s usage of its budget of Rs. 8 lakh for urban anganwadis and Rs. 4 lakh budget for rural anganwadis.
The impasse was broken when it was decided to conduct an inspection of both anganwadis to decide which one was in need of urgent repair.
