Maldives Delegation Applauds NTR District’s Model of Transparent Rural Governance

Vijayawada:A delegation of elected representatives from the Maldives has lauded the transparency, accountability and participatory development practices being implemented in village panchayats of NTR district.

They termed the grassroots governance model as an inspiring example of decentralised administration.

The 26-member delegation, comprising elected representatives of Island Councils in the Maldives, is currently undergoing training at the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD), Hyderabad. As part of their field exposure programme, the team has been touring NTR district since June 28 to study rural development initiatives and local governance mechanisms.

During their visit to Guntupalli village, the delegates participated in various community programmes and interacted with local residents. They studied initiatives aimed at empowering women through Self-Help Groups, attended Gram Sabha, Mahila Sabha and Bala Sabha meetings, and reviewed skill-development programmes being conducted through the RISE Centre.

The team also examined the preparation and implementation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).

On Tuesday, the delegation attended a meeting of district-level officials chaired by district collector Lakshmisha at the Sri Pingali Venkayya Conference Hall in the collectorate.

The collector explained the welfare schemes and development programmes being implemented in Andhra Pradesh. He outlined the vision of Swarna Andhra and Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and highlighted the innovative strategies being adopted to achieve these goals.

Lakshmisha also briefed the delegation on the importance of Real Time Governance Society systems and the use of IVRS-based citizen feedback mechanisms in monitoring nearly 56 government schemes and programmes.

The collector explained the district’s Swachh Bharat initiatives and highlighted the growth potential of the primary and secondary sectors alongside the service sector, which contributes nearly 67 per cent of the district’s economy.

Members of the Maldives delegation said their field visits had been a rewarding experience. They noted that the success stories of women entrepreneurs trained through the RISE Centre were particularly inspiring. The delegates also praised the functioning of Self-Help Groups and appreciated the waste-to-wealth centres operating in the district.

NIRD coordinators Arun Raj and Sirisha, district panchayat officer Seeta Mahalakshmi and officials from various departments attended the meeting.