E-tenders made mandatory in three tier panchayat

Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil, who said that the move would help in bringing transparency in rural governance, told reporters that the decision would come into effect from January 1, 2012. Similarly, in order to check enrollment of bogus students and ensure that there is no absence of teachers from schools, biometric systems are being installed in six talukas, one each in the six divisions of the state. About 1000 schools will be covered under the scheme.

"Presence of teachers and students in classes will be uploaded immediately under the biometric system," he added. The biometric system is being planned for government employees as well. "The aim is to ensure that employees who draw government salary are go to the villages to do their work," he added.

Speaking about the eco-village scheme, he said 12,193 villages have fulfilled the requisite criteria for 2010-11. Villages from among these, will be selected for micro planning of the village, where the local residents will also be involved. Gram Panchayats, which will have worked well under the eco-village scheme, will be honoured with "Vikas Ratna" title at the hands of President of India Pratibha Patil in Pune on December 2.