Litmus test of administration at doorstep

​Hyderabad: The much-awaited answer to the moot question of whether the administration has really moved closer to the people would be clear in the days ahead as the stage is set for the first conference of district collectors on Wednesday, following reorganisation of districts. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will formally launch the logo of the State government’s TS-Wallet at the conference.

The focus of this high-profile gathering, however, would be on the measures being taken to implement cashless transaction system across the State and the hurdles being encountered by officials, particularly in rural areas.

The conference will discuss the impact of demonetization on the state economy, particularly with regard to the implementation of various developmental programmes.

In this context, chief secretary K Pradeep Chandra had held a video conference with the district collectors and directed them to prepare a comprehensive district development plan as per the local financial resources, geographical needs, minor irrigation sources and other parameters.

The State has already announced Ibrahimpur as a cashless transaction village. It is learnt that two more villages -- Gandhi Nagar and Kasarabad - in Suryapet will be declared cashless transaction villages.

The Chief Minister, who held a review meeting, directed all the collectors and Superintendents of Police (SPs), Joint Collectors and Municipal Commissioners to come with detailed reports on the activities taken up in their respective districts.

Government departments had to be proactive and see to it that all benefits reached the targeted people as the new districts were formed for administrative convenience, he told them.

Among other things, the district collectors were asked to get data on irrigation resources, updates on irrigation projects under construction, status of primary education, condition of schools and horticulture. "It is not necessary to adopt one plan for all districts. Plans should be need-based for every district," he told officials.

KCR told the officials to ensure that 4,000 swipe machines were put in place in the Siddipet constituency as there was more demand and less supply of the machines.

He wanted the officials to conduct village-level meetings (gram sabhas) to educate and create awareness among the people on the use of ATMs, credit and debit cards and mobile Apps.

He also told the officials to involve students to take up awareness programs on the cashless transactions. The entire awareness campaign should be taken up on a mission mode, he said. He said RTC buses, commercial establishments and sale points should use swipe machines.

All commercial and trading activity as well as payment of government taxes should be done through Apps. All the business and trade persons should open their bank accounts.

Ministers T Harish Rao, Laxmareddy, G Jagadeeshwar Reddy, Tummala Nageswara Rao, Advisor to Government G Vivekanand, Government Chief Whip Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and others were present at the meeting.