The Karnataka government has ordered notices to 12 zilla panchayat deputy secretaries, 74 taluk panchayat executive officers and 308 panchayat development officers over delays in paying workers employed under the VBG-RAM-G scheme across 311 gram panchayats in 12 districts.
Rural Development Minister Eshwar Khandre directed officials to issue the notices after expressing dissatisfaction that workers had not received wages on time despite clear instructions to ensure prompt payment. The action covers panchayats where funds for wages had reportedly already been released but payments to beneficiaries remained delayed.
According to the report, the affected panchayats include 23 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.
The minister warned that panchayat development officers would be held responsible if beneficiaries were not paid within 15 days. The direction comes as the state faces drought conditions and is seeking to provide more work to rural residents and reduce distress migration. Delayed wage payments can weaken the immediate income support that employment programmes are intended to provide, particularly for households dependent on local public works.
The dispute also highlights a change in the funding structure of the programme. Under the earlier employment guarantee arrangement, the Centre reportedly covered 90% of the expenditure while the state contributed 10%. Under the new scheme, the cost-sharing ratio has changed to 60:40. Karnataka implemented the VBG-RAM-G scheme from July 1 despite the higher financial burden on the state, according to the report.
Khandre said administrative negligence was undermining the purpose of the scheme even as the state government was carrying a larger share of the cost. The minister’s office has directed the relevant district and taluk-level officials to respond through the notice process.
The wage delays had previously been reported by Prajavani in a special report published in its October 10 edition. The latest action establishes an administrative response, but the report does not specify how many workers remain unpaid, the total amount pending or the dates by which each affected panchayat will complete disbursement. Those details will determine the scale of the payment backlog and whether the 15-day deadline is met.
