Pawan vows swift action on tribal panchayat issues

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Pawan Kalyan, reaffirmed the coalition government’s dedication to resolving longstanding issues faced by village panchayats, particularly in tribal regions. Addressing a meeting in Araku with representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Sarpanch Welfare Association and sarpanches from tribal villages in the Alluri Seetharamaraju district, Pawan Kalyan assured that the concerns raised would be placed before the Cabinet, and all viable solutions would be implemented promptly.
A key grievance shared by the delegation was the mounting burden of interest on unpaid electricity bills. The sarpanches urged the government to reinstate the free electricity scheme for minor panchayats. They highlighted discrepancies in past administrations—pointing out that while the previous coalition government issued notices for dues, the YSRCP regime deducted amounts directly from panchayat accounts without proper clarification.
The delegation also submitted a memorandum seeking formal recognition of tribal Gudems and Thandas as special panchayats, along with dedicated financial allocations. They further requested an increase in housing assistance to ?5 lakh for tribal families and emphasized the urgent need for better infrastructure and employment opportunities in agency areas. In response, Pawan Kalyan announced plans to hold focused consultations with tribal sarpanches to formulate a comprehensive development roadmap. He expressed support for the release of 15th Finance Commission funds and assured the state’s commitment to strengthening rural governance.
The delegation included AP Sarpanch Welfare Association President Chilakalapudi Papa Rao, Akhil Bharat Panchayat Parishad Vice-President Dr. Jasti Veeranjaneyulu, Ananthagiri ZPTC Member Deesari Gangaraju, and tribal leaders Pangi Sunitha Suresh, Petteli Sunitha, and Petteli Dasubabhu, among others