Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has given onerous responsibility to the resource persons of transforming newly elected sarpanches and villages secretaries into change agents to ensure the all-round progress of villages.
The Chief Minister conducted a day-long training of the resource persons — who in turn will be imparting training to the sarpanches to achieve the goal of transforming rural Telangana self sufficient in all aspects. The day-long session was held at Pragathi Bhavan here on Wednesday and concluded with an interactive session.
In the process, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao literally turned a teacher by explaining every aspect of how the resource persons were expected to give necessary understanding and awareness to the sarpanches to work with dedication and commitment for the development of the villages.
Accountability
The Chief Minister said that the required funds and responsibilities would be allotted to the village panchayats and the sarpanches and the panchayat secretaries should work with accountability. Since services like drinking water supply, power supply and road laying, among others, that were important for the villages were being directly handled by the State government, the village panchayats should concentrate more on village cleanliness, sanitation, greenery, construction of crematoria, among others.
Devolution of powers
Chief Minister made it clear that the government would be very liberal in devolving and delegating the powers as well as in providing funds but at the same time, if either the funds were misused or if they were negligent in discharging their duties, the sarpanches and the secretaries would be suspended in accordance with the provisions of new Panchayat Raj Act.
He wanted every village by accessing the resources within the village and assessing the needs of the village should prepare a five-year plan for the village.
Village plan
The works in the village would be taken up in accordance with the village plan. In the first phase, plan should give importance to village greenery, sanitation, construction of crematoria and collection of taxes pertaining to the village. The Chief Minister told the resource persons that a fine of not less than ₹500 should be imposed if anyone threw garbage on the roads in villages and dumping yards should be provided. Water logging should not be seen anywhere and weeds should be removed regularly.
The resource persons, he said, should give suggestions to the sarpanches and village secretaries in the preparation of the village plan. They should provide a clear cut understanding to the sarpanches and village secretaries about the village development and caution them against negligent towards their duties.
Serious view
Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao said government would take a serious view if the resource persons did not follow its directive. The resource persons should act as mentors in transforming the rural Telangana, he said and added that he would meet and interact with the resource persons once in six months to get feedback from them.