Latest news with #ShashibhushanKumar

The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh hosts first South India regional conference on social audit
Andhra Pradesh hosted the first-ever South India Regional Conference on Social Audit, earning acclaim for its pioneering practices in transparency and accountability in welfare schemes, according to G. Srikanth, Director of the A.P. Society for Social Audit, Accountability and Transparency (AP SAAT), Department of Rural Development. The two-day conference, held on July 16–17 in Mangalagiri, brought together social audit and MGNREGS officials from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. Delegates from Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu participated on the first day, while officials from Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala attended the second day. Key discussions focused on enhancing transparency, sharing best practices, and strengthening accountability mechanisms in the implementation of social audits. Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary Shashibhushan Kumar highlighted the State's landmark initiative of livestreaming mandal-level public audits on YouTube, making it the first State in the country to do so. He also noted that Gram Sabha findings and other social audit data have been made publicly accessible online. Mr. Srikanth reiterated the State's commitment to conducting comprehensive audits and engaging directly with MGNREGS workers. He also underscored the use of cultural platforms to raise awareness about social audits among the public. Participants and Central Rural Development officials praised Andhra Pradesh's model, with many expressing intent to adopt similar practices in their respective States. The State was widely acknowledged as a national leader in social auditing.


The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh aims to promote horticulture in one lakh acres under MGNREGS
In a major push to strengthen the rural economy, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has launched an ambitious horticulture plantation drive under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), tailored to each region's agro-climatic strengths, with a target of taking up the exercise in one lakh acres across the State. The initiative is designed not only to create durable livelihood assets but also to generate long-term income for small and marginal farmers, Shashibhushan Kumar , Principal Secretary, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, told The Hindu. As per the region-wise crop strategy, North Andhra will see the plantation of cashew, mango, coconut, acid lime, guava, seethaphal, tamarind, silver oak, and rubber. Coastal Andhra will focus on mango, cashew, acid lime, guava, coconut, sapota, pomegranate, and cocoa, while Rayalaseema is expected to grow mango, sweet orange, acid lime, guava, sapota and pomegranate. These region-specific choices aim to maximise productivity and ecological compatibility. Mr. Shashibhushan Kumar said the selection of fruit crop species would be as per the choice of the beneficiary, and had the recommendation of the horticulture officer on the soil suitability and availability of water. Farmers would be encouraged in perennial horticulture crops such as fruit trees, commercial crops and floriculture. A key highlight of this year's programme was a mega plantation drive held on July 8, which covered 25,000 acres in a single day across the State, he added. The official launch was conducted at Veerapanenigudem village in Krishna district, where mango saplings were planted in the field of a local farmer by Mr. Shashibhushan Kumar, along with senior IAS and IFS officers and local dignitaries. In FY 2024–25, an extent of 63,582 acres were brought under horticulture plantations benefiting 41,008 farmers. For FY 2025–26, the State targets 1,00,000 acres. Since the inception of the programme, plantations had been raised on 7.69 lakh acres, benefiting 4.65 lakh farmers, he explained. Under the initiative, each eligible beneficiary can cultivate fruit-bearing trees on 0.25 acres to 5 acres. Financial assistance of up to ₹1.09 lakh per acre over three years will cover inputs such as land preparation, saplings, manures, watering, and fencing. Only plantations with 50% or higher survival rate, monitored via a mobile app, will qualify for continued support. The programme aims to transition rural employment from seasonal wage support to recurring agricultural income, with expected earnings of ₹80,000 to ₹1,00,000 per acre per annum post-harvest. Additionally, technical support, high-quality planting materials, and training are being provided in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture. The Principal Secretary observed that by blending employment with asset creation, the Andhra Pradesh government was transforming MGNREGS into a long-term livelihood enabler, promising both economic growth and environmental sustainability.

The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan moots ‘war room' for monitoring drinking water supply
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (PR&RD) K. Pawan Kalyan has instructed officials to set up 'drinking water war rooms' in the Rural Water Supply (RWS) Department head office and the Collectorates to constantly monitor the water supply situation and solve the problems in the least possible time. Addressing a meeting of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers organised by the PR&RD Department on the occasion of May Day, near Mangalagiri, in Guntur district on Thursday, Mr. Pawan Kalyan emphasised the need to link agriculture with the scheme, while pointing out that it required a recommendation by the 16th Finance Commission, and that the State government would talk to the Centre about the proposal. He said the funds given to the PR&RD Department under the MGNREGS were like oxygen, and a host of development works were being taken up with the money, and top priority had been given to provision of safe drinking water under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the State government submitted proposals worth ₹87,000 crore to the Centre for various projects under the JJM, and approvals were received for about ₹29,000 crore, which had to be utilised till 2028. 'More funds are needed for rolling out the mission, but the State has to wait for the Centre to overcome its constraints in order to fund the schemes in Andhra Pradesh,' he said. Further, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said the government was working out ways to involve youth in the MGNREGS works so that they could earn, and in the process be helpful in creating assets for the State. He said the MGNREGS workers were indispensable for the development of the nation. Therefore, the State government gave due priority to their welfare and it could increase the daily wage by scrupulously conducting social audits. The occupation of every person in society, be it a doctor, a scientist, or a worker who does physical work for a living should be respected as per the fundamental principle of 'dignity of labour' A sum of ₹10,600 crore was spent on MGNREGS in the State the previous year, including ₹6,190 crore on wages. A host of development works were being executed as part of the 'Palle Panduga', he added. Principal Secretary (PR&RD) Shashibhushan Kumar, Commissioner M.V.R.K. Teja and Director (MGNREGS) Shanmukh Kumar were among those present.