PDOs not generating jobs under VBG Ram G to be suspended: Khandre

Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar B. Khandre has directed officials to initiate strict disciplinary action, including suspension, against Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) who fail to provide employment and generate person-days under the VBG Ram Ji scheme, which replaced MGNREGA in the state from July 1.

Chairing a review meeting with senior department officials at Vikas Soudha on Thursday, Khandre instructed authorities to identify Gram Panchayats that had generated employment under MGNREGA in July 2025 but failed to provide work to even a single beneficiary during July 2026 under the new scheme.

He ordered that show-cause notices be issued to such PDOs and that disciplinary proceedings be initiated if negligence or dereliction of duty is established. “While it may be difficult to attract workers in areas around Bengaluru due to higher wage expectations, there is no justification for PDOs in rural areas failing to provide employment to eligible beneficiaries. Such negligence will not be tolerated,” the Minister said.

Khandre directed the department’s Secretary and Commissioners to seek explanations from erring officers and suspend them if they are found guilty of negligence after due inquiry.

To achieve the government’s target of five lakh person-days of employment every day under the VBG Ram Ji scheme, the Minister ordered the department’s Secretaries and Commissioners to hold daily virtual review meetings.