Telangana has stepped up El Niño preparedness by expanding rural employment, water conservation and drinking-water planning across its gram panchayats, with Panchayat Raj and Rural Development minister D Anasuya, popularly known as Seethakka, directing officials to begin pending works immediately.
The minister said employment guarantee scheme VB-G Ram G works had started in 12,516 gram panchayats across the state, while activities were yet to begin in 244 villages. Officials were instructed to launch works in the remaining gram panchayats and increase worker participation to create local employment and help prevent distress migration.
A total of 3,97,788 workers participated in employment guarantee works on October 27, according to Seethakka. She asked officials to mobilise more workers and directed them to appoint one work supervisor for every 40 workers to strengthen implementation at worksites.
The preparedness plan also includes restoration of village tanks and construction of farm ponds, soak pits and borewell recharge structures. Officials were asked to make advance arrangements to prevent shortages of drinking water and fodder for livestock. The measures are intended to strengthen water security and support livelihoods within villages if El Niño-related conditions create additional stress.
Seethakka asked sarpanches to create local employment opportunities and use available funds effectively for infrastructure development. She said every gram panchayat should be developed as an Adarsha Gram Panchayat, or model village, with development works planned according to local geography and residents’ living conditions.
The minister warned that action would be taken against sarpanches, panchayat secretaries and mandal-level officials who failed to make adequate progress. Officials and elected representatives were directed to coordinate efforts to meet development targets and ensure that approved works did not face delays.
The instructions also call for special attention to tribal and agency areas. Integrated Tribal Development Agency project officers were asked to generate employment and take up check dam construction in those regions, where local geography and living conditions require area-specific planning.
The state government’s immediate focus is therefore on starting pending employment works, increasing participation, improving water-retention infrastructure and preparing supplies of drinking water and fodder. Officials are expected to act on the directions across the remaining gram panchayats and in vulnerable tribal and agency areas.
