Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Khandre Warns of Action Against Officials Over Employment Guarantee Jobs
The minister in charge of villages in Karnataka told government officers in Ballari that they must help villagers find work.
He said officers would be punished if poor people have to leave their homes to look for jobs in cities.
Not enough rain has fallen, so farming has been hard and people are worried about money.
There is a special scheme that gives villagers work, like building roads and canals.
Ballari has only reached a little less than half of its work goal so far.
The minister wants officers to create lots of workdays every month and pay workers on time.
He also said every family that is eligible should get a job card quickly.
The minister said there is enough money for the scheme, so there is no excuse.
He also told officers to make sure people get clean drinking water and safe roads.
Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre warned of disciplinary action against Executive Officers and PDOs if rural workers are forced to migrate despite available employment guarantee work.
Ballari district achieved only 46% of its 51.30 lakh person-day target up to July, and officials were directed to generate five to six lakh person-days every month from August.
The district has 1.84 lakh active job cards covering around 4.60 lakh workers, with e-KYC completed for about 1.30 lakh job cards.
Officials were told to issue job cards within 24 hours of verified applications, geo-tag all assets, and ensure timely wage payments directly into workers' bank accounts.
Khandre said there is no shortage of funds, with more than ₹1,000 crore released to Zilla Panchayats, plus ₹1,200 crore from the state and ₹1,700 crore from the Centre in the first quarter.
- Who
- Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre, along with district and panchayat officials.
- What
- Warned of disciplinary action against Executive Officers and PDOs if rural workers are forced to migrate for employment despite work available under the employment guarantee scheme, and issued directives to speed up implementation.
- When
- Sunday, at a review meeting covering programme progress up to July of the current financial year.
- Where
- Zilla Panchayat auditorium in Ballari district, Karnataka.
- Why
- Shortage of rainfall hurt agricultural activities and risked forcing rural people to migrate to cities, while the district achieved only 46% of its person-day target up to July.
- Minister
- Eshwar B. Khandre, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj
- Scheme
- Employment guarantee scheme (VBG Ram G)
- Person-day target
- 51.30 lakh for the current financial year
- Progress up to July
- 46% of target achieved
- Required monthly output
- 5-6 lakh person-days from August
- Active job cards
- 1.84 lakh covering ~4.60 lakh workers; e-KYC done for ~1.30 lakh
- Works permitted
- 318 types under the scheme
- Funds
- ₹1,000+ crore to Zilla Panchayats; ₹1,200 crore state; ₹1,700 crore Centre (Q1)