Kodagu Deputy Commissioner (DC) Venkat Raja emphasized the urgent need to prevent child marriage and child labour during a recent meeting to review development activities at his office. He instructed concerned department officials to intensify public awareness campaigns on these issues and urged collective efforts to eradicate them.
DC Venkat Raja also directed the Social Welfare Department to prioritize tribal and backward class welfare, and ensure the safety and hygiene of students in hostels and residential schools. He emphasized the need for nutritious food and good quality bedding in hostels.
He further stressed the importance of maintaining infrastructure in Anganwadis, schools, and colleges and asked officials to report any issues in their respective departments.
Highlighting the importance of water conservation, the DC noted that protecting lakes would help sustain rainfall and improve groundwater levels.
He also reminded all disaster management officers that during the rainy season, no one should leave the district headquarters on leave, and emphasized the need for alertness.
Regarding education, he said that playgrounds and toilets must be made mandatory in all schools. He also encouraged nodal officers to regularly attend and conduct village meetings and guided the Gram Panchayat Development Officers to contribute effectively to village administration.
Zilla Panchayat CEO Anand Prakash Meena shared updates on rural development projects under the Panchayat Raj Department, including initiatives related to drinking water, road development, and the MGNREGA scheme.
Other officials present included Assistant Commissioner Vinayak Narvade, Deputy Conservator of Forests Abhishek, ADC R. Aishwarya, ASP Dinesh Kumar, DHO Dr. Sathish Kumar, DDPI Rangadhamappa, DD of Social Welfare Shekhar, DD of Women and Child Development Nataraja and Tippanna P. Sirasagi, Labor Officer T. Kaveri, Project Director Shiraj Ahmed, and many more departmental heads and officers.
