Special officers appointed for 559 GPs in Rangareddy

Rangareddy: With the appointments of special officers to all the gram panchayats in Rangareddy, the election fervour heats up in the district, which may be held soon after the proposed Lok Sabha elections next month.

Following the release of a government order on February 1 regarding the appointment of the special officers throughout the State, the district administration in Rangareddy released an annexure specifying the details of the officers appointed to all the gram panchayats in the district.

Gazetted officials from departments such as Panchayat Raj, Revenue, ICDS, Irrigation, RWS, Agriculture, Mission Bhageeratha, Women and Child Welfare, SC Welfare, Animal Husbandry, R&B, Veterinary, PR&RD, and Horticulture were appointed as special officers for all the 559 gram panchayats in the district on deportation.

Soon after the appointments, the Rangareddy district collector, K Shashanka on Tuesday held an orientation programme with the newly appointed special officers at Integrated District Offices Building, in Kongara Kalan.

While schooling the newly appointed special officers, he said, “The newly appointed officers need to play a crucial role in the development of the respective gram panchayats in the district and should be aware of the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018.”

Apart from this, he advised the officers to take stock of the issues prevailing in the concerned gram panchayats, like drinking water and sanitation, besides getting a straight dope about the cases pending in the courts and the bank accounts related to the gram panchayat affairs.

“Top priority should be given to drinking water supply and related issues given the approaching summer season,” he said, adding that “100 per cent tax collection should be achieved that will help ensure further development activities.”

The collector wants 100 per cent work for labourers under the employment guarantee scheme in every gram panchayat. Apart from this, the village authorities should ensure plastic-free villages by controlling the usage of single-use plastic bottles.

Specifying the tasks the special officers have to take on in the respective gram panchayats, the collector said, “It is the responsibility of the special officers to prepare development plans for the concerned gram panchayat that include supply of drinking water, sanitation management, implementation of rural employment guarantee scheme, plantation under Haritha Haaram, and maintenance of records.”

Elaborating about the proposed special sanitation programme, the collector said, “Local public representatives should be involved in the programmes organised in the villages under the special sanitation programme scheduled to be held from February 7 to 14.”

“The special officer should have a complete understanding of the issues faced by the villagers so as to address them appropriately. Strict action will be taken if the concerned gram panchayat officer is found negligent in performing the duty,” the collector warned.