With the district administration facing funds crunch to organise the 80th Akhila Bharatha Kannada Sahitya Sammelana which is scheduled to be held in Madikeri for three days from January 7, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Srividya has directed every gram panchayat to offer Rs 10,000 fund towards organising the mega event.

Speaking at the monthly KDP review meeting of developmental works of Kodagu Zilla Panchayat at Old Fort hall in Madikeri on Thursday, the CEO directed taluk panchayat executive directors to ensure that the gram panchayats lend the help. Kannada Sahitya Parishat District Unit President T P Ramesh who was present at the meeting raised the issue and said that a resolution was passed in the previous meeting to raise Rs 10,000 fund from every GP for organising Sahitya Sammelana. But, only a few GPs have given the amount and 90 per cent of GPs have failed to release the amount.

He also requested that every GP displays two to three welcome banners during Sammelana. With most of the name plates in the district written English, the authorities should direct the shop owners write the name plates in Kannada, he asked.

Chairing the meeting, ZP President B Shivappa suggested the officers and elected representatives to extend co-operation for making the event a success.

Social Justice Standing Committee President Rajarao said that for availing grant from the gram panchayats for Sahitya Sammelana, letters should be written to the GP presidents too, along with the panchayat development officers. By writing to both, it would be possible to set aside the fund for the convention, he said.

Meanwhile, he also raised the issue of lack of facilities in Morarji Desai residential schools in the district. The materials given by the government departments to these schools are of poor quality, he alleged. He displayed a uniform sample and said the cloth was of sub-standard. He also complained that title deeds were not given to those residing in forest in Nagarahole and other parts of the district and the villagers are also deprived of basic facilities like school, hospital, electricity etc. The forest dwellers are facing problem due to the restricts put by the forest department officers, Rajarao complained.

Responding to the complaint about poor quality in Morarji Desai schools, Social Welfare Officer K V Suresh said that an organisation which is a part of the social welfare department directly controlling the schools from Bangalore is the reason behind all the problems. Assistant Commissioner Abhiram G Shankar said that 75 to 80 per cent of compensation has been distributed to those who have incurred crop loss due to heavy rain in the district during monsoon. There has been a delay in distributing compensation to coffee growers, due to the re-survey of the areas that have incurred crop loss.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS – November 29th, 2013