Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Minister Khandre Urges PDOs to Make Rural Development Primary Goal
Minister Eshwar B. Khandre told village officers that helping rural communities should be their most important job.
He spoke to 528 people who were promoted to become Panchayat Development Officers.
These officers help Gram Panchayats carry out development work.
Their duties include providing clean drinking water, roads, drainage and better lakes.
Khandre also wants villages to stay clean and improve education and health services.
He said a government employment scheme is creating about three lakh person-days of work each day.
He wants that number to rise to five or six lakh person-days by the end of the month.
The officers were asked to work honestly, efficiently and transparently so rural residents can find opportunities near home.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre urged Panchayat Development Officers to make rural development their main objective.
Khandre administered an oath of dedication, efficiency and integrity to 528 promoted Grade-I Secretaries.
PDOs were asked to improve drinking water, roads, drainage, lakes, sanitation, education and community health in villages.
The minister set a target of increasing daily employment under VBG RAM G from about three lakh to five or six lakh person-days by month-end.
Officials were directed to deliver e-Swathu services on time, protect government properties and improve the use of Gram Panchayat libraries.
- Who
- Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre, 528 newly promoted Panchayat Development Officers and other panchayat officials.
- What
- Khandre administered an oath to the promoted officers and instructed them to prioritize rural development and effectively implement village services and employment works.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- The Bengaluru Urban Zilla Panchayat office in Bengaluru.
- Why
- The instructions were intended to improve rural infrastructure, sanitation, public services and employment opportunities, especially amid a rainfall deficit in the state.
- Speaker
- Eshwar B. Khandre, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister
- Officials promoted
- 528 Grade-I Secretaries were promoted as Panchayat Development Officers
- Current employment generation
- About three lakh person-days per day under VBG RAM G
- Employment target
- Five to six lakh person-days per day by the end of the month
- Eligible works
- VBG RAM G covers 318 categories of works, including groundwater recharge, cattle sheds, roads and canals
- Other priorities
- Safe drinking water, sanitation, education, community health, malnutrition prevention and e-Swathu services