Confusion prevails over the establishment of Indiramma Committees in Kothagudem-Telangana Today

The establishment of Indiramma committees proved to be a pain in the neck for officials, with political leaders demanding a place for their followers in the committees.

Khammam: Installing The Indiramma Committeeswhich has been mired in legal trouble, has proven to be a pain in the neck for officials with political leaders demanding a place for their followers on committees.

It may be noted that the state government had on October 11 issued GO 33 directing district collectors to constitute Indiramma Committees after parish development officers in rural areas and municipal commissioners in urban areas submitted names for to be nominated to committees.

As per GO 33 at the gram panchayat (GP) level the sarpanch or special officer would be the chairman of the committee and at the municipal ward level the councilor/corporator would be the chairman while the panchayat secretary would be the convener at the GP level and the officer of the ward would be convener at the municipal ward level.

In both cases, two women SHGs and three local people, one of whom should be from BC and one from SC/ST communities, should be nominated in the committees, which would select the beneficiaries.

However, the ruling Congress leaders allegedly forced officials to nominate their followers to the committees.

The leaders were using the names of ministers Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Tummala Nageswara Rao to pressurize the officials in electing the members of the Indiramma committee.

In Kothagudem Assembly, local CPI leaders allegedly pressured officials to appoint their party leaders to the committees. In the wake of these issues, the Indiramma committees that were supposed to be constituted by October 12 are yet to take shape.

On the other hand, Congress veterans opposed the newly joined leaders to get a seat in the committees.

Kothagudem District Youth Congress President A Pradeep openly demanded that party workers who were with the party when it was not in power and worked for its development should be given place in Indiramma committees.

Pradeep said he and other party workers met Kothagudem district president P Veeraiah of the Congress party and submitted a memorandum seeking to give priority to workers who have been working in the party for the last 10 years.

Those who have recently joined the Congress should not be given seats in the committees, he remarked.

It may be recalled that the High Court has already issued a notice to the government after hearing a writ petition filed by BJP leader A Maheshwar Reddy challenging GO 33, setting up Indiramma committees without reference to gram sabhas and ward committees.

Also, Adivasi Bar Association (AAA) state secretary and Adivasi Sena vice-president Sode Venkateshwarlu termed GO 33 as illegal in the case of scheduled areas. Selection of beneficiaries should be done by gram sabhas subject to agency laws, he said.