The Karnataka government has ordered notices to 308 panchayat development officers and 86 other officials over delays in paying wages to unskilled workers under the VBG RAM G rural employment scheme across 311 gram panchayats in 12 districts.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B Khandre directed the department to seek explanations from the officials, including 12 zilla panchayat deputy secretaries and 74 taluk executive officers responsible for supervision. The direction was issued to the department secretary and chief executive officers of the 12 affected zilla panchayats, according to a report by Prajavani.
Khandre had earlier instructed that workers under VBG RAM G must be paid within 15 days of completing their work and warned that the concerned panchayat development officers would be held responsible for delays. Despite that direction, wage payments remain pending in the identified gram panchayats, prompting the minister to express dissatisfaction.
The delayed payments affect unskilled workers who had already completed work under the scheme. The affected gram panchayats are located in Bagalkot, Belagavi, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu, Mandya, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi and Vijayapura districts.
The district-wise count reported by the department includes 23 gram panchayats in Bagalkot, 52 in Belagavi, 13 in Chamarajanagar, 14 in Chikkamagaluru, 15 in Dakshina Kannada, 47 in Hassan, 25 in Kodagu, 13 in Mandya, 53 in Mysuru, 14 in Shivamogga, 23 in Udupi and 16 in Vijayapura.
Khandre said administrative negligence in releasing wages could weaken the purpose of the scheme, particularly during drought conditions. According to the minister, delays may discourage people from accepting local employment and push some residents to migrate in search of work. The concern is especially significant for rural poor households, landless labourers and economically vulnerable communities that depend on timely wage payments.
The minister also pointed to a change in the funding pattern. While the Centre’s share under MGNREGA was earlier described as 90 per cent, the VBG RAM G arrangement has changed the ratio to 60:40, increasing the financial responsibility of the state government. Despite the added burden, the state introduced the scheme from July 1 to support rural poor and disadvantaged workers and reduce distress migration.
The notices will seek explanations from the panchayat development officers in the affected gram panchayats, the taluk executive officers responsible for monitoring implementation and the deputy secretaries of the 12 zilla panchayats. The department secretary and the chief executive officers of the concerned zilla panchayats have been instructed to ensure that wage payments are not delayed in any other panchayat. The officials’ responses and the release of pending wages are the next stated steps.
