The State Government is considering holding of conclaves across the State to create awareness about the new Panchayat Raj Act enacted recently.
The conclaves, to be attended by senior officials as well as elected representatives of the panchayat raj institutions, have been proposed to ensure that they are made aware of the measures taken by the government for ensuring all round development of villages. The development follows the State government’s decision to spend ₹35,000 crore, ₹7,000 crore annually over the next five years, for the development of villages.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao told officials during a meeting convened on Sunday to review the functioning of the panchayat raj bodies.
The local bodies should be geared up to utilise these funds effectively and the government planned to entrust the elected representatives with specific duties and responsibilities in this direction. The district Collectors on their part would monitor the implementation of the programmes in the villages under their respective jurisdiction and an orientation conference is proposed to be held soon in this direction.
The Chief Minister stressed the need for ensuring clean and green environment in the village bodies and said the newly elected sarpanches and other representatives of local bodies should actively involve themselves for the development of the respective villages. Accordingly, it was decided to hold four such conclaves covering all parts of the State to educate them about the steps that would be taken to strengthen the local bodies.
Once the conclaves are completed, the government proposes to constitute 100 flying squads with officials to conduct surprise inspections of the progress of works proposed. Steps would be initiated against those found guilty of dereliction of duties and misuse of funds. The measures, the Chief Minister said, are aimed at ensuring a visible change in the villages over the next three months.
