The Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat, in its sixth general body meeting here on Friday, approved a ₹1,210.73-crore action plan for 2017-18.
Taluk panchayats received the lion’s share with ₹811.42 crore, followed by zilla panchayats with ₹370.60 crore and the gram panchayats with ₹28.70 crore for 2017-18.
Friday’s meeting also saw an acrimonious debate over the officials’ inaction regarding alleged corruption.
ZP member Shivaraj Patil Raddewadagi alleged that officials, involved in irregularities in the utilisation of the funds, were protected and honest officers targeted and harassed. Another member Harshanand Guttedar demanded that vacancies in Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres be filled.
Out of 387 sanctioned posts, 135 are vacant in Aland taluk. ZP Chief Executive Officer Hephsiba Rani Korlapati said that biometric attendance system will be put in place from next month in all the health centres in urban and rural areas to ensure the punctuality of doctors. Steps had also been taken to install CCTVs in health centres, she said.
Gauramma Jaibheem, zilla panchayat member representing Kolda, alleged that male members did not allow female members to speak during the meeting. “I have been waiting for my turn for the last three hours. Male members occupying the front seats neither finish their questions nor end the debate,” she said.
Ms. Jaibheem demanded that ZP president Suvarna Malaji reserve a special hour for women members.