Grama Jyothi, A Game-Changer: K T Rama Rao

Grama Jyothi would be a game changer for inclusive growth of rural Telangana, Panchayat Raj Minister K T Rama Rao observed on Monday.

Participating in the Grama Jyothi program at Aziz Nagar under the Moinabad mandal in the Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad, KTR said that the state's villages would really shine through this novel program.

He initially went around the village by foot, and also visited Telangana martyr Saritha's family.

The minister interacted with the villagers and enquired about their problems, and sought their opinions to get rid of the village's problems.

KTR later participated in the Grama Sabha along with Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy and Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy. He spoke with the villagers and heard out their ideas for the development of their village.

Speaking on the occasion, KTR said that today all rural citizens were aspiring for all-round development, and understanding their aspirations, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had started Grama Jyothi.

"With Grama Jyothi, the rural people will decide their developmental priorities, and the government will act accordingly. We understand that every village has its own set of problems and priorities and needs, which demand special planning. We want Aziz Nagar's village development plans to be written in the Aziz Nagar grama sabha, and not in the Assembly or Secretariat - this is the sole theme of Grama Jyothi," he said.

The minister exuded confidence that Grama Jyothi would result in holistic development of hitherto backward villages, and added that the government would give incentives to villages that achieve 100% targets in the areas of sanitation, immunization, nutrition, literacy and green cover.

He appealed to the people to involve themselves in this collective effort for the comprehensive development of their villages.

He appreciated the Aziz Nagar gram panchayat for achieving 100% tax collection, and assured all possible help from the government.

He also assured that the Ranga Reddy district would get its due share from the Krishna river waters.

Mahender Reddy and Konda Vishweshwar Reddy also spoke.