‘Gram sabhas’ to plan work based on local needs: Eluru Collector

To advance village development, the State government will conduct ‘gram sabhas’ under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to identify and plan development work according to local needs, District Collector K. Vetriselvi announced.
Addressing a ‘gram sabha’ at the Pragadavaram village secretariat in Chintalapudi mandal on Friday, the Collector outlined the planning process for MGNREGS works for Andhra Pradesh’s 2024-25 financial year. The meeting was chaired by village Sarpanch Tommandru Bhupathirao and was overseen by the District Water Management Agency, Eluru. District Collector K. Vetriselvi and Chintalapudi Assembly Constituency MLA Songa Roshan Kumar were the chief guests.
The Collector stated that ‘gram sabhas’ are being held across 547-gram panchayats in the district as part of the MGNREGS initiative. These meetings aim to design development plans democratically at the village level. The Collector emphasised the importance of increasing public awareness of administrative processes to ensure effective governance and development. She urged village representatives and residents to work together to develop Pragadavaram village as a model panchayat. She also advised villagers to stay vigilant and take precautions against dengue, which has led to several cases being reported. ANMs and other health workers have been instructed to conduct surveys and provide immediate medical services for dengue and other viral fevers.
During the programme, MLA Songa Roshan Kumar highlighted the efforts of central and state governments to improve public welfare through MGNREGS. He stressed the need for panchayats to work towards development with public participation. Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that villages are the backbone of the nation, he noted that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have taken steps to ensure transparency in the panchayat system. This includes holding village meetings across the state to identify development needs.
In his address, P. D. Ramu of the Eluru Water Management Agency discussed the legal framework of MGNREGS, which mandates 100 days of work for wage earners and provides job cards to only one member per family. He outlined the opportunities for various types of work under the scheme, such as drainage systems, CC roads, check dams, ponds, and internal roads. The meeting also included discussions on internal material works like 8 CC roads, 13 irrigation canals, and support for fruit orchards. A special counter was set up at the village meeting for additional work requests, and discussions were held on issues related to agriculture, including fodder and sheds.
Following the meeting, District Collector K. Vetriselvi and MLA Songa Roshan Kumar planted saplings in the secretariat premises.
The event was attended by Panchayat Secretary B. Mohan Muraleedhar, ZPTCs, MPTCs, public representatives, various department officials, and village residents.