Gram Panchayats to Get Revanth’s New Year Gift
Revanth Reddy stated that the special assistance would be extended to gram panchayats irrespective of their political affiliations.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Tuesday announced a ‘New Year gift’ for all 12,706 gram panchayats — a special financial assistance of Rs.5 lakh each for smaller gram panchayats and Rs.10 lakh each for major ones. He said this special assistance was aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and accelerating village-level development.
Addressing newly-elected sarpanches and ward members at a meeting held in his home constituency of Kodangal, Revanth Reddy said the funds would be released from the Chief Minister’s Special Development Fund in January and would be over and above the regular grants provided by the Central and state governments.
He assured the newly-elected representatives that the government would ensure the release of nearly Rs.3,000 crore to gram panchayats from combined Central and state sources before March 31 next. Sarpanches were urged to prepare village-wise development plans in advance to ensure effective and transparent utilisation of the funds.
Revanth Reddy stated that the special assistance would be extended to gram panchayats irrespective of their political affiliations. Stressing inclusive governance, the Chief Minister said he practised politics only during elections and that once elections were over, his sole focus was on development across villages, towns and cities. He noted that the funds would be released directly by him and would not require approvals from MLAs, MPs or Ministers.
The Chief Minister asked the sarpanches to set aside political differences and work collectively for the all-round development of villages over the next five years. Party rivalries, he said, should remain confined to elections, and there should be no discrimination or village-level feuds hindering progress.
He said that if any eligible beneficiary was left out, sarpanches should immediately bring it to the government’s notice, assuring that it was his responsibility to ensure universal coverage. The Chief Minister also announced that the breakfast and mid-day meal scheme would be implemented in all the government schools from the next academic year.
Highlighting the Congress government’s welfare initiatives, Revanth Reddy listed schemes such as fine rice distribution to the poor, provision of 200 units of free electricity, disbursement of Rs.9,000 crore within nine days under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, free bus travel for women in RTC buses, and the distribution of one crore saris to one crore women.
