Latest news with #DRDA
Hans India
13 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Integrate yoga into daily routines for better health: Collector Sumit Kumar
Chittoor: Chittoor district Collector Sumit Kumar stressed the importance of integrating yoga into daily routines, stating that regular yoga practice can prevent many health issues. Speaking at a yoga awareness programme held at Puligundu village in Penumuru mandal of GD Nellore constituency, the Collector highlighted the significance of yoga in promoting physical and mental well-being. The programme, organised under the Yoga Andhra initiative and coordinated by the District Tourism Department, saw the participation of Chittoor SP Manikantha Chandolu as the chief guest alongside the Collector. They both addressed the gathering and stressed the importance of yoga as a part of daily life. Collector Sumit Kumar mentioned that yoga awareness campaigns have already been conducted at prominent tourist locations like Kanipakam temple, and the current event at Puligundu witnessed the participation of over 2,300 people. So far, nearly 2.5 lakh people have registered under the Yogandhra 2025 initiative, reflecting the widespread interest. He further noted that practicing yoga for at least half an hour every day can significantly reduce mental stress and improve productivity. He urged everyone to make yoga a part of their daily schedule and emphasised that 5,000 trained yoga instructors are currently available across the district to support the initiative. SP Manikantha Chandolu shared practical tips for maintaining good health, such as getting sunlight exposure before 8 am for vitamin D, eating a diet rich in vegetables, breathing fresh air, and combining these practices with yoga for overall wellness. As part of the event, experienced yoga instructors explained the importance of yoga and demonstrated various asanas. The programme was attended by District Tourism Officer Gowri, DRDA PD Sridevi, DSDO Balaji, Chittoor RDO Srinivasulu, among others.
Hans India
17 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Rangareddy aims at timely completion of over 16K Indiramma houses
Rangareddy: Rangareddy district collector C Narayana Reddy has urged officials to ensure the timely construction of Indiramma homes approved within their operational areas, announcing that over 16,000 houses have been sanctioned across the district to date. Speaking at a recent video conference at the Collectorate concerning the implementation of the Indiramma house and Rajiv Vikasam Schemes, the Collector stated that the district administration is committed to benefiting all eligible individuals under the schemes. Consequently, all requisite measures are being implemented to ensure the prompt processing of applications. Mr Reddy instructed that grounding works for the sanctioned homes should commence immediately, ensuring their completion within a stipulated timeframe. The Collector further emphasised that the Indiramma scheme must be implemented effectively. He called for the establishment of a supervision committee in every mandal and directed that prices for materials such as sand, bricks, and crushed stone, alongside mason charges, should be determined. Elaborating on the number of beneficiaries selected under the Indiramma Housing scheme, the Collector confirmed that a total of 16,617 homes have been sanctioned for eligible individuals in the district. He noted that 839 applications remain pending for disposal, which will be cleared following scrutiny. As sand is being supplied free of charge for Indiramma Housing construction, the Collector stressed its availability for all beneficiaries. Regarding the Rajiv Vikasam scheme, Mr Reddy requested that the list of selected beneficiaries be submitted to his login. He stated that beneficiaries under this scheme should receive at least RS 1 lakh, to be disbursed in June. The video conference was attended by Project Director DRDA Rangareddy Srilatha, BC and Minority Welfare officers, among other senior officials.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Another case under MGNREGA ‘scam': Balvantsinh Khabad sent to five days police custody
A local court in Dahod on Monday remanded Balvantsinh Khabad — the older son of Gujarat Minister of State for Panchayat, Bachubhai Khabad — to five days in police custody following his re-arrest on Sunday in a fresh case of alleged irregularities in the the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in district's Dhanpur taluka. On Monday, the Dahod district police sought 14 days remand of Balvantsinh, citing that records of the payments as well as involvement of government officials, who favoured the agency run by the accused, needed to be probed into. Dahod Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagdishsinh Bhandari told The Indian Express, 'We had sought a remand of 14 days on various grounds but the court has granted five days in police custody until Friday. We also have Kiran Khabad in custody until Friday.' Balvantsinh's arrest on Sunday had come just three days after the Dahod Sessions court on Thursday had upheld the regular bail granted to the two brothers in the first case filed by the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA) of an alleged MGNREGA scam worth Rs 71 crore. While Kiran was re-arrested minutes after being released from judicial custody on Thursday, in a second FIR lodged in connection with irregularities in Lavaria village of Devgadh Baria taluka, Balvantsinh's arrest has come in a third FIR lodged by the DRDA in case of incomplete projects in Bhanpur village in Dhanpur taluka of the district. In the new case against Balvantsinh, the police is probing an irregularity of approximately Rs 33 lakh for about 11 incomplete MGNREGA works that have been found in Bhanpur village of Dhanpur taluka. Bhandari added that no fresh arrests have been made in any of the three FIRs registered so far. A total of 14 persons have been arrested in the case, including the then Taluka Development Officer (TDO) of Devgadh Baria, Darshan Patel, the current Deputy District Development Officer (DDO) of Dahod Rasik Rathwa, who was then the TDO of Dhanpur taluka as well as Dilip Chauhan, a former Assistant Programme Officer (APO) — and a distant relative of the Khabads. Then Assistant Programme Officer of Dhanpur Bhavesh Rathod, MIS operator Sanjay Baria and the owner of other agencies that supplied materials — Parth Baria and Jagdish Baria — are among the 14 accused to be arrested so far. Kiran and Balvantsinh are the only accused to have been arrested in more than one FIR so far.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
AwasPlus Survey: Over 1.6 lakh in need of housing in Prayagraj
The AwasPlus Survey-2025, conducted to identify eligible people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Prayagraj, has been completed. According to district officials, the survey found that 1,63,822 people in the district are in need of housing. Of these, 71,005 individuals submitted applications through the self-assessment process mandated under the scheme, while the departmental survey identified 92,817 people as eligible. The district administration is now verifying the 71,005 self-assessed applicants, officials said. Block-wise evaluation was done by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), according to which Koraon development block has the highest number of people eligible (19,588), while Chaka has the lowest (2,049). 'Verification is underway for the AwasPlus survey under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana, a social welfare programme under the Union ministry of rural development to provide housing for the rural poor. Koraon has the highest demand for housing, while Chaka has the lowest. The report of both self-assessment and departmental survey is being sent to the government. Further action will follow based on official instructions,' Bhupendra Kumar Singh, project director of DRDA (Prayagraj), said. On the instructions of the state government, the AwasPlus survey was started in the district in April and continued till May. The purpose was to cover the people who had been left out under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana despite being eligible, officials said. The policy was explained to the common people and a self-assessment report was sought from them, while the departmental survey was conducted in parallel. Thereafter, the list of eligible people in all 23 blocks was finalised on May 30, they explained.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
NREGA scam: Gujarat minister Bachu Khabad's son Balvantsinh re-arrested 3 days after release on bail
The Dahod district police in Gujarat Sunday re-arrested Balvantsinh Khabad, the older son of Gujarat Minister of State for Panchayat Bachubhai Khabad, in a fresh FIR lodged against him by the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA) for an alleged irregularity under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the Dhanpur taluka. Balvantsinh's arrest comes just three days after the Dahod sessions court on Thursday upheld the regular bail granted to the two brothers —Kiran and Balvantsinh —in the first case filed by the DRDA regarding an alleged MGNREGA scam worth Rs 71 crore. While Kiran was re-arrested minutes after being released from judicial custody on Thursday, in a second FIR lodged in connection with irregularities in Lavaria village of Devgadh Baria taluka, Balvantsinh's arrest has been made in a third FIR lodged by the DRDA in the case of incomplete projects in Bhanpur village in Dhanpur taluka of the district. Speaking to The Indian Express, Dahod Deputy Superintendent of Police Jagdishsinh Bhandari said, 'We have re-arrested Balvantsinh Khabad on Sunday morning, following a fresh FIR of DRDA. The new case involves an amount of approximately Rs 33 lakh, as about 11 incomplete MGNREGA works have been found in Bhanpur village of Dhanpur taluka.' 'The modus operandi is the same; the agencies were unauthorised as they did not participate in the tendering process and then generated bills for material supply when the projects had not been undertaken on the ground,' added Bhandari. Bhandari added that Balvantsinh will be produced in court late Sunday evening, with the police seeking his fresh remand. Earlier, Kiran Khabad was sent to seven days in police custody in connection with the case filed on Thursday. The first FIR in the multi-village MGNREGA scam was lodged on April 24 by the Dahod DRDA director. It states that villages of Kuva and Redhana in Devgadh Baria and Simamoi in Dhanpur reported forged completion reports of MGNREGA projects, with payments 'made in connivance' to 'unauthorised' agencies for supplying material. Out of the 35 unauthorised agencies, 28 were found in Devgadh Baria to have received payments for non-existent roads under MGNREGA. As many as 14 people have been arrested in the case, including the then taluka development officer (TDO) of Devgadh Baria, Darshan Patel, the current Deputy District Development Officer (DDO) of Dahod, Rasik Rathwa, who was then the TDO of Dhanpur taluka, as well as Dilip Chauhan, a former assistant programme officer (APO), and a distant relative of the Khabads. Then, APO of Dhanpur, Bhavesh Rathod, MIS operator Sanjay Baria, and the owners of other agencies that supplied materials — Parth Baria and Jagdish Baria — are among the 14 accused who have been arrested so far. Kiran and Balvantsinh are the only accused to have been arrested in more than one FIR so far.
