In a decisive move to prevent administrative lapses, the chief executive officer of Mandya Zilla Panchayat has issued a strict deadline for all village councils in the district to establish properly equipped record archives. This directive comes in the wake of an incident where crucial files were reported missing from the Induvalu gram panchayat in Mandya taluk.
Deadline Set for Archive Creation
Addressing officials via a video conference on Friday, CEO KR Nandini ordered every gram panchayat in Mandya district to create and operationalize a well-equipped record archive by January 31, 2026. She emphasized that this initiative is fundamental to strengthening record management systems and ensuring such incidents of missing documents do not recur.
Nandini revealed that a significant number of panchayats are already compliant. 129 gram panchayats have successfully set up their archives. She highlighted the dual critical function of these archives: to systematically collect all documents required for the newly implemented e-Swathu software and to enable officials to provide information to the public within legally mandated timelines.
Review of Key Government Schemes
The video conference also served as a platform to review the progress of several central and state government schemes. Nandini issued specific instructions to accelerate work and meet crucial deadlines:
- Officials must prepare and submit the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA action plan for 2026-27 by January 15.
- Material costs under various schemes must be disbursed promptly to ensure no grants lapse.
- Progress under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) must be accelerated to achieve 100% of the targets for the 2025-26 period.
Focus on Financial Management and Sanitation
The CEO further laid down clear guidelines for financial discipline and sanitation projects. She stressed the need for optimal utilisation of funds allocated under the 15th Finance Commission. Improvement in local tax collection was also underlined as a priority area.
Nandini instructed officials to ensure the timely payment of beggar cess and library cess. On the Swachh Bharat Mission front, she called for strict adherence to guidelines, which include:
- Complete geo-tagging of all toilets constructed under the scheme.
- Expeditious completion of ongoing greywater management projects.
The high-level meeting was attended by deputy secretaries Shivalingaiah and Lakshmi P, along with other district officials and Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs). The directives signal a strong administrative push towards transparency, accountability, and efficient delivery of public services at the grassroots level in Mandya district.
