Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on January 14 launched a new initiative to communicate with the rural mass by interacting with people of a village in Bellary district through video conferencing.

The villagers of Genikihal village located 43 kms away from the district headquarters town of Bellary, including women and children, interacted with Krishna and aired their grievances, suggestions and demands.

Aided by bureaucrats and ministers hailing from the district M Y Ghorpade, Diwakar Babu and MLC K C Kondaiah, Krishna responded to them in the "Janaspandana" programme that lasted more than an hour.

Krishna told reporters later that the assurances he gave today would be reviewed periodically to see that these are fulfilled.

A couple of women who spoke urged Krishna to enhance "subsidy amount" for self-help groups that they formed under "Stree Shakti" programmes, as also increased honorarium for "Anganawadi" workers.

Two school children wanted computers to be installed in their institutions.

Krishna said he intends to hold "Janaspandana" once in a week.

Genikihal is part of the Kurugodu Assembly constituency, represented by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Allum Veerabhadrappa.

AICC (All India Congress Committee) president Sonia Gandhi was elected to Lok Sabha from Bellary and Amethi in the last elections. She later resigned the Bellary seat, retaining Amethi.

PTI