HYDERABAD: Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister K.T. Rama Rao held an interactive session with ward level officers of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in Hyderabad on Saturday. The programme was organised on the occasion of ‘Telangana Good Governance Day' held as part of the decennial celebrations of Telangana State formation.
The Minister said that 150 ward offices will be inaugurated on June 16, with each office housing 10 staff members from various departments led by the Ward Administrative Officer (WAO), where people can lodge their civic grievances. An Assistant Municipal Commissioner rank officer will be the WAO.
A ward administrative officer (WAO), engineer, town planner, entomologist, sanitary jawan, community organiser, urban biodiversity supervisor, assistant, line inspector, computer operator and receptionist, will be assigned to each ward office.
KTR detailed the main functions these offices and job responsibilities of each of the staff members. One of the objectives of the offices is to ensure proper maintenance of all civic infrastructure provided under all ongoing schemes, development projects in the ward. The MA&UD Minister also said that a Citizens Charter will be released which will detail the time to redress a grievance. This will be displayed at the offices.
The Minister said that a WAO will coordinate with all government departments, escalate issues to additional or deputy commissioners or others. Ward engineers will look after roads, drains, repair or construction of community halls and other infrastructure in the ward. They also have to address water logging issues, filling of potholes, and repair of minor patches on roads. Ward town planners monitor buildings construction, ensure public property is not encroached, and enforce building rules. A Ward Entomologist has to identify water logging areas and undertake anti larval operations. Ward Sanitary Jawan will supervise overall sanitation works in the ward. Ward Urban Biodiversity Supervisor is responsible for all the green programs of the government. Ward Community Organizer will coordinate with Self Help Groups (SHG) and NGOs. Ward Assistant will be from HMWSSB, who will receive complaints with regard to water supply, sewerage, bills and others, and redress them. The Ward Line Inspector will attend complaints regarding power supply.
Addressing the huge gathering of the staff members, the Minister exhorted them to receive grievances from all platforms: in-person, social media. The Minister emphasized the importance of recording every suggestion and request made by citizens. If the staff members are unable to provide a solution to an issue, they should escalate it immediately.
The MA&UD Minister assured the staff that they will receive complete support until the people are satisfied with the system. He specifically asked the Zonal Commissioners to closely monitor the system during the initial two to three months.
Asserting that no other metro city in the country has implemented the Ward Office system, the Minister expressed confidence in its success and anticipated that other cities in the country would adopt a similar approach in the future.
Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, MP Dr. G. Ranjith Reddy, MLAs from Hyderabad, senior officials were present at the occasion.
