HYDERABAD: The state government will conduct the ‘Prajapatham’ programme from April 15 to May 5. This was stated by agriculture minister, Kanna Lakshminarayana. The Prajapatham agenda has been fixed during the review meeting held by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy with all ministers concerned.
During the 20-day-programme, top priority would be given to issues like drinking water, employment, power supply, farmers’ subsidy, free power to farmers, interest-free loans to women’s SHGs, alternate employment for farm labourers under MNREGS, Antyodaya cards to SC/STs, 108&104 services, compensation to farmers who lost crops during last year’s Kharif season and other issues.
Kanna Lakshminarayana informed that the chief minister would launch the programme at a place and venue, which would be decided soon. he also said that long, medium and short-term drinking water projects would be given top priority so that availability of potable water was ensured for the masses this summer. Drinking water supply would be taken up in all SC and ST colonies on a war footing, he added.
Reminding that rural masses migrate to other places in search of work during summer season, the minister said that issuance of new job cards under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to beneficiaries would also be taken up as part of Prajapatham. Antyodaya cards will be distributed to all SC/ST families and input subsidy of `1,880 cr, which was due to farmers who lost their crops during the Kharif season last year, will also be provided to them during the programme.Meanwhile, the chief minister said hereafter the same cabinet sub-committee will look after both Prajapatham and Rachabanda programmes. He on Wednesday reviewed the schedule of Prajapatham programme, priority themes and important guidelines. He also directed the finance department to release funds for drinking water and other works under Contingency Relief Fund (CRF) and non CRF.
Prajapatham is an interaction between general public, elected representatives and government servants. Prajapatham will focus on a set of priority issues, appropriate for time of the year and area/habitation concerned. It involves all public representatives right from MPs to panchayat and municipal ward members.
The chief minister directed release of `25 cr immediately for shifting of LT lines in the housing colonies. He also asked officials to closely monitor the 108 emergency and 104 services and ensure their prompt functioning. He wanted enough medicines to be procured and stored in the medical depots and wanted more hospitals to be opened in the tribal areas.