MPDO crunch hobbles welfare schemes

​Hyderabad: Implementation of welfare schemes and development programmes in hundreds of villages is getting delayed with the absence of Mandal Parishad Development officers.

Of the 438 mandals, 124 mandals which have Mandal Parishads do not have MPDOs, and hundreds of villages, which are part of these mandals, are unable to get the benefits of welfare schemes and development programmes implemented by the State and Central governments.

The government has not taken any steps to fill these posts, and these mandals are kept under the supervision of officers of neighboring mandals or the responsibilities have been entrusted to other officers of the mandals for the last two years. Around 65 MPDOs were sent on deputation to other departments.

Speaking to The Hans India, president of Telangana Mandal Parishad Development Officers Association B Raghavendra Rao said that the government should fill as many as 86 posts through promotions and so far, no steps have been taken in this regard.

He said, as per rules, the government has to fill the 70 per cent of the vacant posts through promotions and the rest through the direct recruitment. Executive officers of Rural Development and superintendents of Panchayat Raj department are eligible for promotions. Raghavendra Rao said that the Commissioner of Panchayat Raj has not taken steps to give promotions to eligible officers of the department. Their pleas in this regard for the past 10 years have not been addressed. Many of the officers who are eligible for promotions have been denied the benefit for about 15 to 20 years.

On the other hand, with the work pressure, the officials of other departments or the neighboring mandals were unable to implement programmes properly and depriving people of their benefits.

“MPDOs are responsible for implementation of programmes like National Employment Guarantee Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat, e-Panchayats, distribution of funds to the villages, executing works recommended by MPTCs and Mandal Parishads and taking care of sanitation and drinking water issues. 

They are also responsible for implementation of the new Panchayat Raj Act which would come into force soon. They have to make arrangements for conducting elections to the Gram Panchayats this year and to the MPPs and ZPs next year,” he said.

He further added that MPDOs have to ensure preparation of electoral rolls of the gram panchayats for the elections. They have to take up division of wards in the new panchayats, preparation of voter lists as per wards and determination of the reservations to the panchayats.

Many villages in the State are facing drinking water shortage and it is the responsibility of the MPDOs to take measures to address the issue. They have to arrange water supply through alternative methods. They should hire agriculture borewells and other water resources to ensure supply of drinking water through tankers, he added.

Meanwhile, officials of the districts said that they have sent reports about the vacancies of the MPDOs and there was no response from the government.