CM launches Praja Palana, separate counters for regular grievances, TSPSC recruitment as per job calendar

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy released the ‘Abhaya Hastam’ logo and application form for the Praja Palana public outreach programme of the newly elected Congress Government at the State Secretariat on Wednesday.

The programme will be held from December 28 to January 6 in all the villages and wards across the State to receive grievances and applications from the people.

Addressing media the Chief Minister said that for eight working days, the Government and people’s representatives would reach out to the public at their doorsteps saving them from coming down to the State capital to submit grievances.

“At present, they come either to the Secretariat or the Praja Bhavan from long distances. I heard they were sleeping overnight to reach the Praja Bhavan. This means that the earlier Government stayed away from people for too long and problems mounted,” he said. The CM said that so far the Government received 24,000 applications through the public outreach programme and most of them were related to land, Rajiv Arogyasri, and houses.

Stressing the need to apply in the prescribed format the Chief Minister said that through the application designed for five of the six guarantees the Government would know the quantum of the assistance needed and prepare accordingly.

Elaborating on the ‘Praja Palana’ programme, the CM said that every mandal would be divided into two parts, one to be headed by an MRO and the other by an MPTO. “Each officer should visit two villages in one day. In villages where there are more people, more counters will be opened. Those who can’t apply at Grama Sabha can apply at Panchayats also. This will be a continuous process and won't stop on January 6,” CM pointed out.

He clarified that separate counters would be made available for the people who prefer to submit grievances other than submitting the Praja Palana application form. He made it clear that those without ration cards could also apply for the five-guarantees and they could apply for new ration cards at the separate counters provided by the Government.

He said that volunteers could help fill up the application forms. “In Hyderabad, we have requested the authorities to print applications in Urdu, for those who cannot understand Telugu,” he said.

He said that the Government already laid down a process of digitalising the grievances received at the Praja Bhavan by giving them a docket number and sending received messages to the applicant. “A tracking system was put in place as we need to know where the application reached and what was the action taken,” Chief Minister said. He said that once all the Government received the applications he would have 100 days to fulfill the aspirations of the people.

Need time for Rytu Bharosa

Answering a question on the possible ceiling on Rytu Bharosa and benefits to Tenant farmers, he said that the issue would be discussed in the Assembly. “The earlier Government used to disburse Raty Bandhu amounts between December 28 to March 31. So there is no delay in disbursement. The earlier Government left the coffers dry so give us breathing time,” he said.

TSPSC recruitment as per schedule

The Chef Minister said that the recruitment by the TSPSC would be completed by December 9, 2024, as per the job calendar declared by the Government. He attributed the delay to the pending approval of resignations of the existing TSPSC board members.

“Without a chairman, we can't do anything. They have submitted resignations and they are pending with the Governor who after taking legal opinion will approve them. Then transparently new board will be formed,” CM said.

BRS left the coffers dry

Coming harsh on the earlier BRS Government the Chief Minister said that he initially believed that the State finances were on the top, but he realised that the situation was too bad after assuming charge.

Criticising the earlier Government for spending lavishly on unproductive things, said that the BRS Government purchased and kept ready 22 Land Cruisers in Vijayawada to be brought to Hyderabad for use after assuming power for the third time. “We have submitted white papers in the Assembly and gave the BRS time to respond, But they left the Assembly and talked about the creation of Assets. They have demolished the Secretariat which could have housed a hospital and built a new one. I can't call it asset creation,” Revanth Reddy pointed out.

Commenting on the help of Rs 1 lakh offered by the BRS Working President KT Rama Rao to a lady who could not find succour at the Praja Bhavan, he said that KTR still owed Rs 99,999 crore to the people of Telangana. Soon the Congress Government would distribute the money to the people, he said.

Chief Minister said that during the BRS rule, even MLAs were not allowed inside the State Secretariat. “We were driven away from the gates. Hopefully, we will have a press conference hall created especially for the media. I have urged the Chief Secretary to create one. All pending issues of media including land sites would also be taken care of, the CM said.