Latest news with #RuralDevelopmentandPanchayatRajDepartment
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. government sanctions ₹150 crore for Namakku Naame Thittam for 2025-26
The Tamil Nadu government has accorded administrative sanction for ₹150 crore for implementing the Namakku Naame Thittam — a programme aimed at encouraging people's participation in the creation of public assets — during 2025-26 The G.O. issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department also framed guidelines for the implementation of the programme for 2025-26. Construction of buildings, smart classrooms, labs in schools and colleges, hostels, community kitchens, and their repair, among others, could be taken up under Namakku Naame Thittam. While 74% of the total sanctioned amount will be reallocated to districts based on population, 1% will be earmarked for information, education, and communication activities. The remaining 25% will be set aside for the sanctioning of special works by the Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. 'It is preferable that the local body or the department themselves maintain the works/assets created under Namakku Naame Thittam. In order to continuously maintain the assets created under this scheme, the local people should form a user group run on self-generated resources. The local people should be encouraged to plan, execute, and maintain the works based on local needs,' it said.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
151 water bodies made available for farmers and potters in Tiruppur for removal of fertile top soil and clay
The Tiruppur administration has permitted farmers and potters to take alluvial soil from 151 water bodies under the control of Water Resources Department, or Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, during this year. While heaving a sigh of relief over the government removing gravel and savudu (mainly used for filling purpose for strengthening basement of construction) from the list of minerals that could be removed under this initiative since last year, farmers are, nevertheless, unsure whether the scheme would serve the intended purpose - enriching the agricultural soil with nutrients - this year citing the water storage in the ponds and tanks due to good rainfall in the monsoon months of 2024. The alluvial soil is mostly found in the central portion of the ponds and tanks. Most of the water bodies have storage this time even in the midst of peak summer. Clay or alluvial soil cannot be mined from the sides of the water bodies, according to farmers. The silt deposited in the water bodies is rich in nutrients and can be applied as a good manure to agricultural fields by the farmers. Allowing the farmers to take earth from the beds of tanks and reservoirs freely to the requirement for the fields would also pave way for restoration of the lost capacities of the water bodies. However, farmers are not sure how the process could be carried out in water bodies holding storage. The powers for sanctioning removal of alluvial soil and clay have been delegated to the tahsildars. 'The process is still cumbersome. The sanction ought be accorded at the level of Village Administrative Officers and Panchayat presidents,' Muthusamy, a farmer in Dharapuram said. According to officials, some of the active water user associations are already assisting farmers and monitoring the soil removal process. A farmer is permitted to take 25 tractor-loads of top soil for cultivable land, and 30 tractor-loads for dry land. According to official sources, measures have been put in place to ensure the farmers derive optimal benefit. Farmers are required to produce certificates to the effect that they are holding lands in their name or are cultivating tenants as per Adangal Register. Likewise, only members of Pottery Labourers Co-operative Society registered under Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Act, 1983 (Tamil Nadu Act 30 and 1983) are permitted, sources added.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dalit Sene moves Lokayukta against ten PDOs alleging misappropriation of funds
Members of Dalit Sene have lodged a complaint with Karnataka Lokayukta against Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) of ten gram panchayats alleging large-scale embezzlement of funds was detected in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department in Kalaburagi district. Sene State president Hanumant Yelasanghi, addressing press persons here on Saturday, accused that financial irregularities to the tune of ₹ 10.35 crore have been detected in the purchase of equipment at gram panchayats without inviting tenders or obtaining competitive quotations from different vendors or firms. On April 25, a complaint was lodged with Lokayukta against Prakash Babu Gonsagi, PDO of Kellur gram panchayat in Jewargi taluk; Bheemaraya-PDO of Malli gram panchayat in yadrami taluk; Ningappa Kembhavi- PDO of Tonasanahalli gram panchayat at Shahabad taluk; Ravi-PDO of Malkhed gram panchayat in Sedam taluk; Prema-PDO of Gotur gram panchayat in Kalgi taluk; Shravankumar-PDO of Kadabur gram panchayat in Chittapur taluk; Megha-PDO of Mannur gram panchayat in Afzalpur taluk; Shantappa-PDO of Karchakhed gram panchayat in Chincholi taluk and Ramesh-PDO of Hodaloor gram panchayat in Aland taluk of Kalaburagi district. Each PDO has swindled funds ranging from ₹82 lakh to ₹1.45 crore, Mr. Yelasanghi alleged, and accused the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer of having turned a blind eye to such huge corruption and failing to take any action against these officials. Holding Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge accountable for large-scale irregularities and corruption in the department, Mr. Yelasanghi alleged that the misutilisation of funds had taken place under Mr. Kharge's nose in his own department, adding that the RDPR department is neck-deep in corruption in Kalaburagi district. SSLC results Expressing his displeasure over the SSLC results of Kalaburagi district this year, Mr. Yelasanghi said that the district has stood in the last position in the State despite spending a sum of ₹652 crore for improving the SSLC performance under the 'Akshara Avishkara' programme by Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB). Though the board was spending around ₹100 crore for each district of Kalyana Karnataka region exclusively for the Education sector, the SSLC performance in the region failed to meet expectations, and the infrastructure facilities of schools continue to be pathetic, he alleged.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Construction of 2,498 houses under ‘Kalaignar Kanavu Illam' scheme under way in Mayiladuthurai
Construction of 2,498 houses for economically weaker families is underway in Mayiladuthurai district under the Tamil Nadu government's 'Kalaignar Kanavu Illam' scheme, launched with the vision of achieving a hut-free Tamil Nadu by 2030. The scheme, announced by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the State Assembly for the year 2024–25, aims to construct one lakh concrete houses across Tamil Nadu in the first phase. In Mayiladuthurai, the project is being implemented through the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, with work orders sanctioned in November 2024. As part of the scheme, each beneficiary is provided financial assistance of ₹3.5 lakh, disbursed in three phases, for constructing a 360 sq ft house. Beneficiaries can choose from four approved design models according to their preference. 'The beneficiary selection process was based on earlier surveys conducted under Kalaignar Veedu Vazhangum Thittam(KVVT) to identify eligible families living in huts. Priority is given to non-government employees, with a reservation ratio of 40% for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and 60% for other communities. Persons with disabilities and former military personnel are also eligible under the scheme.' said an official. The construction targets for different blocks in the district include 550 houses in Mayiladuthurai block, 450 in Sirkazhi, 450 in Kuthalam, 548 in Sembanarkoil, and 500 in Kollidam, covering a total of 2,498 houses. Of these, 733 houses have been fully completed, and payments have been settled for these units. Officials said they are working towards completing the remaining houses within the next two months.
