Karnataka empowers grassroots governance: 1,000 VAOs appointed, trained and digitally equipped

Bengaluru: In a significant move to strengthen rural governance and empower agricultural communities, the Karnataka government has appointed and trained 1,000 new Village Administrative Officers (VAOs).

The ceremony, held at the Vidhana Soudha Banquet Hall, was presided over by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who emphasized the importance of honest service to farmers, calling agriculture the “backbone of the country.”

Delivering a strong message to the newly appointed officers, the Chief Minister urged them to carry out their duties with integrity and dedication.

“The welfare of farmers must be your top priority. Work honestly, stay accessible, and do not cause inconvenience to the people who feed the nation,” he said, while distributing symbolic appointment letters and 4,000 Google Chromebooks to facilitate digital governance.

More than 6.33 lakh candidates had applied for the VAO posts through the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), and the top 1,000 were selected.

With this new batch, the state will now have 9,834 village administrators, bringing governance closer to the grassroots.

Underscoring the importance of accuracy in land records and the shift to digital governance, Siddaramaiah stated that VAOs must ensure transparency and efficiency in managing land data.

“Gone are the days of physical documents and red tape. The new digital ecosystem allows farmers to access records online, and you must ensure the process is smooth and error-free,” he noted.

The Chief Minister also drew a parallel between the historical Shanubhogs and today’s VAOs, saying, “Just as Shanubhogs were once trusted guides of rural life, you too must become reliable and respected pillars of your communities.”

On the occasion, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda emphasized the government’s mission to deliver timely services using technology, and spoke of key reforms under the Bhu Suraksha Yojana, which has already digitized over 19 crore pages of land records.

“In the digital age, delays are unacceptable. From today, applications will be accepted online, and procedures like land mutation and cadastral changes are being completed in as little as 12 hours,” he said.

Laptops are being distributed to VAOs to streamline digital processes and reduce dependency on outdated systems.

The Minister also highlighted the success of pending case resolution: Out of 10,700 cases in the Tahsildar Court, 10,284 have already been cleared.

Similar progress has been made in Sub-Divisional Officer Courts as well, he said.

He noted that initiatives such as Aadhaar-linking of land titles, automatic mutations, and app-based services like PODI and Bagar Hukum are revolutionizing rural administration.

“The Revenue Department is the backbone of the government, and with these reforms, we are bringing transparency and relief to the common man,” he said.

A vision for rural empowerment

The event marked a milestone in Karnataka’s commitment to rural development, digital transformation, and administrative transparency. With the newly trained VAOs at the forefront, the government aims to ensure that farmers receive timely support, rightful documentation, and dignified treatment.

Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria, Revenue Commissioner P. Sunil Kumar, Tarikere MLA Srinivas, and several top officials from the Revenue Department were present, along with the families of the newly appointed officers.