Chittoor, December 4
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan has asserted that steps have been taken to bolster the Panchayat Raj system and a development officer’s office will be set up in every division. The Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated the Divisional Development Office (DDO) here on Thursday, and later, he virtually inaugurated 77 DDOs.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan vowed to implement reforms in the Panchayat Raj system and reinforce its functioning. “A DDO office will be set up in every panchayat division to strengthen the functioning system of panchayat raj. We are appointing an RDO-level officer at all DDO offices," Kalyan revealed.
The Deputy Chief Minister opined that revoking 7,244 clusters and making 13,350 village panchayat self-governing bodies, the panchayats could be provided decision-making powers. He also suggested that a gazetted officer should be appointed to the village panchayats whose population is above 10,000 to make the administration easier.
Kalyan promised to adopt a transparent process for promotions of panchayat raj officials. So far, over 10,000 employees have been promoted irrespective of recommendations or political pressures, he claimed. “The curtailing of the existing five grades of Panchayat Secretaries to three grades will smooth administration. We have given orders to set up a Sanitation Wing, Water Supply Wing, Country Planning Wing, Street Lighting and Engineering Wing and Revenue Wing, depending on the category of the Panchayat,” he clarified.
