401 gram panchayats to get special officers

Hanamkonda: The process of appointing special officers to all gram panchayats has begun with the term of sarpanches is to end by this month. Conducting a review meeting at the ZP Hall here on Wednesday, District Collector M Haritha said the government has ordered to appoint special officers to all panchayats until elections to them are held. 

It may be noted here that elections to panchayats, whose term will end on July 31, were held-up following the directions of the High Court. “The appointment of special officers is to ensure smooth functioning of the gram panchayats from August 1 until their elected bodies assume office,” she said.

The Collector said that while panchayats that have high population will be headed by the gazetted-level officers, the tiny villages will be monitored by mandal-level officials. Officials working with the Medical and Health and Mission Bhagiratha will not be appointed as the special officers, the 
Collector said. She directed the officials to suggest the names to be appointed as special officers to 401 gram panchayats in the Rural district.

District Panchayat Officer Anil Kumar Reddy and heads of various departments were among others present. In another meeting, the Collector said the government had waived loans of 21 handloom weavers, who have taken loans below Rs 1 lakh. In all, loans to the tune of Rs 4.20 lakh have been waived, she said,

Haritha directed the officials to arrange stalls to promote the handlooms as part of National Handlooms Day, August 7. Handlooms and Textiles director G Ramesh, industrial general manager Hariprasad, NABARD DGM Krishna Murthy, DCCB CEO Anjaiah and LDM Hariprasad were among others present.