The Honourable Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has clarified that in the light of the New Panchayat Act, Panchayat Raj institutions would be strengthened and from Village Panchayat to Zilla Parishad, total clarity would be given on the duties and responsibilities of the concerned. He also clarified that the Zilla Parishad and Mandal Parishad would not remain like festival idols as on date without any work, but they would be given duties, responsibilities, funds through decentralization of the power. The CM said clarity would be given on the duties, responsibilities, and funds for the local bodies before the commencement of the 60-day action plan. He announced the appointment of a district level green committee under the chairmanship of district Collector; to monitor the growth of greenery in villages and towns.
The CM held a review meeting on strengthening of the Panchayat Raj and actions to be taken thereof at Pragathi Bhavan here on Saturday. Ministers Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Jagadesh Reddy, Government’s Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary SK Joshi, Panchayat Raj Secretary Vikas Raj, Commissioner Ms Neetu Prasad, CMO Secretaries Ms Smita Sabharwal, Bhoopal Reddy, OSD Ms Priyanka Varghese, MP Banda Prakash, MLAs Marri Janardhan Reddy, K Vidyasagar Rao, MLCs Srinivas Reddy, Tera Chinnapureddy, former Minister Basvaraju Saraiah, Gattu Ramachander Rao and others participated.
“The government’s aim is to develop the villages. I have faith and confidence that if one works with dedication and commitment, there will be a qualitative change in the villages. The government has brought in a new Panchayat Raj Act, to change the topography of the villages. We clearly stipulated the duties and responsibilities of elected representatives and officials. Now the government has decided to transfer powers to the local bodies. There is no justification in ZP Chairman who is designated as the Minister of State, remain without any work. The case is no different with the MPPs, ZPTCs who were elected by the people. This should not happen in future. The local elected representatives should be partners in the governance. We will decide the extent of responsibilities in the field of health, education, and greenery. We will give clarity on what should Gram Panchayats, Mandal Parishad and Zilla Parishad’s do? Very soon we will be getting funds from the Finance Commission; the state government will match the funds. We will release these funds to the local bodies. After stipulating the duties, funds will be released and later the 60-day action plan programme will commence,” the CM said.
Final form after extensive discussions, study
The CM has instructed Minister Dayakar Rao to have extensive discussions and a deep study on what duties and responsibilities should be given to Gram Panchayats, Mandal Parishads, Zilla Parishads, what kind of responsibilities to be given to them on what issues to what extent. He wanted in-depth discussions to be done with people who have a lot of experience on the subject, leaders, officials and subject specialists and then a draft should be prepared. He said the draft would be discussed with the MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and the State cabinet and later it would be put before the Legislative Assembly for a detailed debate. Based on the suggestions, advices, inputs, clear-cut instructions will be given on the duties and responsibilities, funds. After all this exercise and the municipal polls, the 60-day action plan will be commenced,” the CM clarified.
Fill-up all the vacancies in Panchayat Raj
The CM has instructed the officials concerned to fill up all the vacancies from Panchayat Secretary to the CEO. He said, henceforth EOPRD posts would be treated Mandal Panchayat Officers. The CM also instructed that promotions should be given to the categories like Village Secretaries, Mandal Panchayat Officers, Mandal Parishad Development Officers, Divisional Panchayat Officers, deputy CEOs, DPOs, CEOs etc., and fill up the vacancies arising out of this. He said the Panchayat Secretaries posts should be filled up directly.
