Poor progress in MGREGA projects irks MP, DC

February 19, 2011

Mangalore, February 19: There were more questions than answers at a meeting to review the progress achieved in the implementation of the Union Government schemes by the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee here on Friday.

Though Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, and Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav expressed concern over poor progress in the implementation of projects under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the officials failed to come out with clear-cut answers and assurances.

While Mr. Kateel sought to know how the officials would spend more than 85 per cent of the funds sanctioned under the scheme with barely 40 days for the end of the financial year, Mr. Yadav repeatedly pointed out that there was no other scheme that was more important than this in rural areas and its implementation was being watched keenly across the country.

In 11 months, the district spent only about 12 per cent of the funds sanctioned, the Deputy Commissioner said. The meeting was told that only Rs. 33 lakh of the Rs. 3.56 crore sanctioned to Sullia taluk had been spent, followed by Puttur (Rs. 62 lakh of Rs. 4.47 crore), Mangalore (Rs. 80 lakh of Rs. 5.3 crore) Belthangady (Rs. 1.17 crore of Rs. 5.8 crore) and Bantwal (Rs. 1.91 crore of Rs. 5 crore).

Mr. Yadav did not accept the argument that staff shortage had hit the scheme's implementation.

He said officials should not hide behind such excuses and asked them to hold review meetings once in 15 days at the gram panchayat level and strictly monitor the scheme's implementation.

He said issues such as delays in declaring farmers as “small and marginal” which was needed to take up works in their land under the scheme should be sorted out at taluk levels. Chief Executive Officers in taluks could hold meetings with tahsildars and resolve them.

He expressed displeasure that barely a few of the job card holders were seeking jobs under the scheme.

Zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer P. Shivashankar said that a wage of Rs. 100 a day being given under the scheme was far lower than the wages given elsewhere and some progress had been achieved only after it was increased to Rs. 125 from January.

He admitted that cards had been given to those who did not want jobs in a drive conducted under pressure to register more job seekers.

U.T. Khader, Mangalore MLA, suggested that the officials should talk to beneficiaries to identify the problems and come out with solutions. Mr. Kateel and Mr. Yadav accepted this suggestion and asked officials to do so. They promised to hold another review meeting in a fortnight.

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From Representation to Rivalry: The Sorry State of Muslim Leadership in Karnataka Congress

coastaldigest.com news network

January 19,2026

Bengaluru: As the dust settles on the recent legislative session, the corridors of Vidhana Soudha are buzzing with more than just policy talk. A high-stakes game of political musical chairs has begun, exposing a deepening rift within the Congress party’s Muslim leadership as a major Cabinet reshuffle looms.

With the party hierarchy signaling a "50% refresh" to gear up for the 2028 Assembly elections, the race to fill three projected Muslim ministerial berths has transformed from a strategic discussion into an all-out turf war.

The "Star Son" Spark

The internal friction turned public this week following provocative remarks by Zaid Khan, actor and son of Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zaid’s claim—that his father "helped" secure a ticket for Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad in 2023—has acted as a lightning rod for resentment.

Rizwan’s camp was quick to fire back, dismissing the comment as a desperate attempt by Zameer to manufacture seniority. "Rizwan’s political pedigree was forged in the NSUI and Youth Congress long before Zameer even stepped into the party," a supporter noted, highlighting Rizwan’s tenure as an AICC secretary and his two-term presidency of the State Youth Congress.

A Tale of Two Loyalists

While both Zameer Ahmed Khan and Rizwan Arshad are staunch allies of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and represent Bengaluru strongholds, their political DNA could not be more different:

• Zameer Ahmed Khan: A four-time MLA who crossed over from JD(S) in 2018. Known for his "overzealous" and often polarizing outreach during communal flashpoints—from the DJ Halli riots to the recent Wakf land notice controversy—his style has frequently left the Congress high command in a state of "discomfort."

• Rizwan Arshad: A homegrown organizational man. Seen as a "quiet performer," Arshad represents the sophisticated, moderate face of the party, preferred by those who find Zameer’s brand of politics too volatile.

The Outsiders Looking In

The bickering isn't limited to a duo. The "Beary" community, represented by leaders like N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed, is demanding its pound of flesh. Saleem Ahmed, the Chief Whip in the Legislative Council, has dropped the veil of diplomacy, openly declaring his ministerial aspirations.

"I was the only working president not included in the Cabinet last time," Saleem noted pointedly, signaling that the "loyalty quota" is no longer enough to keep the peace.

As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prepares to finalize the list, he faces a delicate balancing act: rewarding the aggressive grassroots mobilization of Zameer’s camp without alienating the organizational stalwarts and minority sub-sects who feel increasingly sidelined by the "Chamarajpet-Shivajinagar" binary.

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