Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday hinted that some key decisions may be taken at a meeting scheduled for Sunday to discuss the empowerment of Dalits in the State.
As part of this initiative, as many as eight lakh Dalit BPL families would be uplifted in a phased manner, the Chief Minister said, adding that District Collectors and senior officials would play a key role in the implementation of the decisions taken at the meeting. He instructed officials to select eligible beneficiaries transparently. “Every year, some beneficiaries from the Dalit communities would be selected through a draw of lots and financial benefits similar to Rythu Bandhu and old-age pension would be extended to them. The government is preparing guidelines towards this purpose,” he said.
With Hyderabad rapidly developing into a cosmopolitan city, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to ensure proper planning for roads, water and other infrastructure facilities. “A policy should be evolved for the welfare of the migrant workers in the State,” Chandrashekhar Rao said, addressing the District Collectors conference at Pragathi Bhavan here. He instructed officials to secure lands for setting up at least five dumping yards in every city of the State to cater to future requirements.
With the new integrated district collectorate complexes coming up in all the districts, the Collectors should take responsibility for transferring all the records and properties from the old offices and put the state-of-the-art buildings to good use for public service. Stating that officials should prepare a list of all lands and properties of government departments and inventories by this month end, the Chief Minister said a separate chamber should be provided at the collectorate office for the convenience of the Chief Minister, Ministers and State-level officers during their visit to the districts. Twin helipads should be constructed in each Collectorate.
An estate officer should be appointed to record details of lands and properties of various government departments apart from protecting and maintaining them, Chandrashekhar Rao said, adding that estate officers should work under the supervision of the Chief Secretary.
In cities that have a population of one lakh, integrated meat and vegetable markets should be set up in no less than two to three acres. Land identified for these markets should also have provisions for parking and other facilities, the Chief Minister said.
Urging the officials to effectively use the 10-day time during the Pattana Pragathi programme, he asked the officials to chalk out “Map Your Town” plans for overall development. Officials should take a cue from the development of Rio De Janeiro in Brazil, he said, adding urban land should be utilised scientifically to meet every requirement of people.
Whatever land is required for public services should be acquired as per law, the Chief Minister said, and instructed the Collectors to focus on rejuvenation of forests in the State. “It is the responsibility of the contracting agencies to take the responsibility of planting saplings on highways across the State,” he said.
Instructing Director General of Police M Mahendar Reddy to curb the menace of marijuana, the Chief Minister said the Police Department should take steps to ensure that the youth in the State are not led astray by anti-social elements.
‘Vaikuntadhamam’ construction bills cleared
The State government has cleared bills pertaining to construction of ‘Vaikuntadhamams’ apart from the funds sanctioned regularly to gram panchayats and municipalities, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao said.
The money would be credited by Monday. He said the State government was taking necessary steps to ensure that there was no scarcity of funds and asked officials to make the 10-day Palle and Pattana Pragathi programmmes successful.