Latest news with #NationalPanchayatRajDay
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Andhra Government failed to clear NREGA wage dues: YSRCP
VIJAYAWADA: YSRCP Panchayat Raj Wing State president Vennapusa Ravindra Reddy strongly criticised Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Pawan Kalyan for celebrating the National Panchayat Raj Day while over 11 weeks of MGNREGA wages remain unpaid to workers. He questioned how poor labourers, especially in drought-hit regions like Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra, are expected to celebrate when they haven't received their rightful earnings since February 6. Despite Pemmasani Chandrasekhar being the Union Minister of State for Rural Development, the NDA coalition government in the State has failed to clear wage dues, pushing lakhs of workers into migration, he alleged. Ravindra Reddy accused TDP leaders of massive corruption in the appointment of Mates under the employment scheme, collecting bribes of up to Rs 15 lakh per post, and drawing fake wages using forged signatures, while genuine workers are ignored. With no new jobs initiated from April 1, and old bills still remain unpaid, the State's 47 lakh active job card holders are left in distress. The Ombudsman system, meant to check corruption in MGNREGA, has been defunct for nine months, and even pro-TDP media has raised concern in this regard, he said.
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Local bodies need fiscal stability to achieve rapid development: Andhra Deputy CM Pawan
VIJAYAWADA: Deputy Chief Minister (Panchayat Raj and Rural Development) Konidela Pawan Kalyan underscored the need for financial, political and social stability to local bodies. Participating in the National Panchayat Raj Day (NPRD) celebrations in Mangalagiri on Thursday, Pawan Kalyan said the coalition government is providing funds to panchayats irrespective of political affiliations. While stating that the Gram Panchayats should achieve self-reliance, he aspired that local bodies should stand as the centres of national integrity and stability. 'I like the villages very much, and had a strong desire to live there. But it did not happen,' he said. Mentioning that he took the portfolio of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR&RD) out of strong liking for it, he revealed that the only thing he told officials after conducting a comprehensive study for two months was to ensure transparency in the department. 'I told the officials to avoid diversion of funds, and ensure transparency in development works and provide basic amenities in villages. The works are now being taken up accordingly,' Pawan Kalyan said. He also highlighted that transparency was ensured in the transfer of employees of the PR&RD department. Asserting that a total revamp was done in the department and the development works are going on at a brisk pace in villages, Pawan Kalyan thanked Principal Secretary Shashi Bhushan Kumar and Commissioner of PR&RD) Krishna Teja Mylavarapu for their efforts in development of rural areas. He promised to clear the bills of contractors, who took up works in villages at the earliest. Accusing the previous government of neglecting the development of villages and diverting funds of the PR&RD in the past five years, he said the coalition government gave Rs 1,121 crore 15th Commission funds directly to Panchayats. Works worth Rs 10,669 crore were taken up in the PR&RD in the first nine months after the formation of the coalition government as per the decisions taken up in the meetings conducted in 13,326 villages. Apart from laying 4,000 km CC roads, 21,564 Gokulalu, 12,950 water troughs and 20,286 farm ponds were completed within a short span, he said and attributed the success to the collective efforts of all. He said efforts are on to lay 1,069 km CC roads in tribal areas under the Adavi Thalli Baata at an estimated cost of Rs 1,005 crore to make Agency areas free from Dolis for shifting people during medical emergencies. Every Panchayat should have a national integrity campus with a pylon, he said.
Hans India
25-04-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Tirupati secures 3rd rank for highest tax collections among panchayats
Tirupati: Tirupati district has earned State-wide recognition for its outstanding performance in revenue collections from property tax and non-tax sources for 2024–2025 financial year. Out of a total demand of Rs 53.01 crore across 774 gram panchayats in the district, a remarkable Rs 44.21 crore, equivalent to 83 percent of the demand, was successfully collected. This impressive achievement has placed Tirupati district in third position across Andhra Pradesh for the highest collections. In recognition of this accomplishment, Tirupati district Panchayat Officer Suseela Devi was felicitated by Deputy CM K Pawan Kalyan during the National Panchayat Raj Day celebrations held in Mangalagiri on Thursday.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Previous govt neglected rural development: Pawan Kalyan
Vijayawada: Deputy chief minister and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan strongly criticised the previous govt for neglecting the Panchayat Raj system and rural development . Speaking at the National Panchayat Raj Day celebrations held at CK Convention Centre in Mangalagiri, Pawan lamented that such an important occasion was forgotten in the last five years. "The earlier govt misused Panchayat funds and ignored the development needs of villages. The current coalition govt immediately released pending Finance Commission grants and deposited them directly into the Panchayat accounts," he said. Highlighting the release of ₹1,121 crore in 15th Finance Commission funds, Pawan emphasised govt's commitment to strengthening local bodies. Pawan said he took over the Panchayat Raj and rural development portfolios with great interest and vowed to bring transparency and discipline. "Despite pressure from ministers and MLAs, we ensured corruption-free transfers in both departments," he added.
