Website on Andhra self-help scheme soon

HYDERABAD, SEPT 18: Inspired by all-round appreciation, the Chandrababu Naidu government will soon launch a separate website on Internet ...

HYDERABAD, SEPT 18: Inspired by all-round appreciation, the Chandrababu Naidu government will soon launch a separate website on Internet for the Janmabhoomi scheme which would benefit all those interested in the self-help programme.

The website will constantly monitor the progress of different works taken up under the programme. Last year, several thousand works worth over Rs 300 crore were in different stages in almost all the villages.

Along with Janmabhoomi, the State government has also encouraged self-help groups in six other areas – Village Education Committees (VECs), Vana Samrakshna Samitis (VSSs), DWACRA, Chief Minister’s Empowerment of Youth (CMEY), Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) and Watershed Development Associations (WDAs).

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The existing habitation level committees of Janmabhoomi would be expanded to include the representatives of all the six self-help groups. They would be called People’s Councils. Explain this move, a senior official said, “This is to underscore people’s participation atthe grassroot level.”

Besides the self-help groups, the People’s Councils would consist of village sarpanch, who will be the committee’s chairman, upa-sarpanch, local school headmaster and representatives of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the area.

At present, there are as many as 1.44 lakh VECs, 6,806 VSSs, 80,000 DWACRA groups, 8,639 CMEY groups, 10,292 WUAs and 4,239 WDAs in 67,505 habitations of the total 28,245 villages in the State. “These groups create assets and operate and audit them,” the official explained.

The concept of stake-holders’ participation or people’s participation in developmental works has already won accolades from the World Bank and other external financial institutions. It has also earned a distinct image for Naidu.

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Naidu, who is in the US, today contacted Chief Secretary K Madhava Rao and asked them to hold a meeting with the secretaries and the heads of the departments of self-help groups.

The Planning department which has been entrusted withJanmabhoomi has made a video film on the success story of Peramma of Poram village in Vizianagaram district, who led the villagers in implementing the programme which has now achieved 100 per cent literacy and sanitation in the village.

“We want to screen the film so as to motivate the villagers,” an official explained. For the effective functioning of the groups, the government has already issued orders for their automatic abolition if they fail to hold managing committee meetings once a month.

A ten-day orientation programme for around 1,100 nodal officers connected with Janmabhoomi would conclude on September 23.

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