TRS Govt weakening the Panchayat Raj system: Uttam

Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused the TRS Government of weakening the entire Panchayat Raj system in the State.

Speaking after inaugurating a series of development works in his Huzurnagar Assembly constituency on Tuesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the development of villages and rural areas was not possible without empowering Gram Panchayats and other local bodies. He said that the people should have the power to decide the priorities for their villages and utilise the funds accordingly. However, he said that the TRS Government has infiltrated into the entire Panchayat Raj system and took away the powers of Sarpanches, ZPTC, MPTC, MPP and other local bodies.

Uttam Kumar Reddy reminded that it was former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who empowered the village-level leadership by introducing Panchayat Raj Act. However, he said neither BJP Government at the Centre nor TRS Government in Telangana was serious in involving the locals in development process. He said TRS Government not only stopped giving funds to Gram Panchayats, but also diverting Central funds. He said no State in the country could grow without developing its village and rural development could not be achieved without empowering Gram Panchayats.

The TPCC Chief said there was all hype and no real progress under TRS regime. He said three acres of land for Dalits, double bed room houses for poor and other schemes remained on paper. While addressing a massive meeting after inaugurating the office of Amaravaram Gram Panchayat, he asked whether anyone in the crowd got double bed room house and there was none who raised his hand. Similarly, he asked Dalits present in the meeting to raise their hand if they got promised three acres of land from TRS Government and no beneficiary could be found.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said the local bodies expected more funds and powers after formation of Telangana. However, he said Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao shattered everyone's dreams by turning himself and his family the sole power centre in the State. In a government where even ministers are deprived of power, one can imagine the status of Gram Panchayats. He also demanded that the government provide promised 6% rebate on tractors.

Uttam Kumar Reddy today inaugurated Anganwadi Bhavan in Gopalapuram village, Gram Panchayat buildings in Amaravaram and Vepala Singaram villages and also inspected the Amaravaram Lift Irrigation scheme in Allipuram.

Earlier, in the day, Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with his wife and Kodad MLA Padmavathi Reddy, performed special pooja in Sri Swayambu Shambu Lingeshwara Swamy Temple in Mellacheruvu. He also offered pooja in Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple and Sri Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Gopalapuram mandals on the occasion of Maha Shivarathri.