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The Hindu
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Telangana gears up for local body elections; numbers of ZPTC, MPTCs finalised
The State government has issued orders confirming the number of Mandal Parishad Presidents (MPPs), Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs), and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs). As per official figures, there will be a total of 566 MPP and ZPTC seats, and 5,773 MPTC seats in the upcoming polls. The number of Gram Panchayats has been confirmed as 12,778, while the total number of wards stands at approximately 1.12 lakh. Local body elections were previously held only once in 2019, after the formation of the State in 2014. At that time, there were 570 MPP and ZPTC seats, 5,817 MPTC seats and 12,848 Gram Panchayats. With several Gram Panchayats having been merged with municipalities and municipal corporations, the number of GPs has come down, said an official. In a memo issued on Tuesday by the Director of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development G. Srijana, all District Collectors, Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), and District Panchayat Officers (DPOs) have been instructed to initiate immediate preparations. These include verifying and maintaining election materials supplied last year and procuring other essential materials locally with the approval of the District Purchase Committees. The Panchayat Raj department has directed that all necessary arrangements, including the supply and verification of statutory and non-statutory forms, seals, covers and handbooks be completed without delay. The High Court of Telangana has mandated that the election process be concluded by September 30. Acting on this directive, the State administration has intensified efforts to complete preparations well ahead of the deadline. Ms. G. Srijana has also cautioned officials that any deviation from the instructions or delay in readiness will be viewed seriously, and the concerned officers will be held accountable. Meanwhile, an ordinance to provide 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in local body elections has reportedly been forwarded to the Governor for his approval. The reservations in each district will be finalised by the Dedicated Commission on BC Quota after receiving the Governor's assent.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Over 1.4 new lakh Jan Dhan accounts opened in 2 weeks: Finance Ministry
In the first two weeks of the financial inclusion saturation campaign, over 1.4 lakh new PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts and 5.4 lakh new enrolments under Jan Suraksha Schemes were recorded, the finance ministry said. The campaign aims to ensure full coverage across all Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies. So far, 43,447 camps have been held to drive enrolments and boost financial literacy. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The finance ministry on Tuesday said that in the first two weeks of its financial inclusion saturation campaign, around 1.4 lakh new PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts have been opened and more than 5.4 lakh new enrolments made under three Jan Suraksha Schemes . "This campaign seeks to achieve comprehensive coverage across all Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), ensuring every eligible citizen is able to avail the intended benefits of these transformative schemes," the finance ministry said in its statement, adding that so far 43,447 camps have been conducted across various districts to facilitate beneficiary enrolment under key schemes and promote financial finance ministry stated that re-verification of KYC details for 96,383 inactive PMJDY accounts was carried out and nomination details were updated in 66,494 accounts.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Solar system installations underway in BharatNet sites in Meghalaya
Shillong: In a major thrust to rural electrification and digital connectivity, the Meghalaya New and Renewable Energy Development Agency is installing off-grid solar systems at 63 BharatNet-1 sites across the state, including government schools, ICDS centres, and community halls, officials said on Tuesday. The initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted power for BharatNet infrastructure using off-grid solar systems, enhancing internet access in remote areas while promoting clean energy , they said. BharatNet is an ambitious project of the Centre aimed at providing broadband connectivity to all Gram Panchayats (GPs) in the country. "This intervention is not just about electrification. It's about empowering rural communities with access to digital services, education, and clean energy," MNREDA Director Joram Beda said. Under the BharatNet project, solarisation of 22 government lower primary schools is underway, while installation work has also started at 8 secondary schools, 4 ICDS centres, and 29 community halls, he said. Simultaneously, under the Chief Minister's Solar Mission, 125 lower primary schools in East Garo Hills, 72 with 1.1 kVA and 53 with 2.2 kVA off-grid inverter systems are being solarised, he said. A similar rollout will begin in East Jaintia Hills, covering 123 schools, the official said. "The CM Solar Mission is aimed at making schools energy-resilient, especially in far-flung villages that suffer from frequent outages," Beda added. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), solar hybrid inverter systems are being installed for 492 households in East Khasi Hills' Mylliem block, and 354 beneficiaries in North and East Garo Hills. These include 0.85 kVA and 1.7 kVA systems depending on household needs, another official said. These efforts are part of a broader push to integrate clean energy into grassroots infrastructure, he said. MNREDA's solar initiatives received support through a mix of international aid, central subsidies (MNRE CFA), and state funding, the officials said.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Dogs from GP limits stray into Bengaluru areas, spark rabies fear
BENGALURU: With the city's suburbs having a stray dog population of around 70,000 and the status of their anti-rabies vaccination unknown, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) animal husbandry department officials express deep concern over the spread of rabies among vaccinated dogs in BBMP as well as migration of unvaccinated stray dogs from panchayats, especially in Bommanahalli, RR Nagar and Mahadevapura. As per a senior veterinarian from the BBMP animal husbandry department, on average, at least 50 to 100 stray dogs in these Gram Panchayats (GPs) are unvaccinated and as dogs are scavengers by nature, there is a possibility of them spreading infection among dogs in BBMP limits. 'BBMP managed to complete above 80 per cent of Animal Birth Control (ABC) among stray dogs in East, West, South, Yelahanka and Dasarahalli zones but both the ABC and Anti-Rabies Vaccination programme in Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli and RR Nagar remain a big challenge. Due to population control of dogs in the past, strays from gram panchayats of Mahadevapura, Bommanahalli and RR Nagar have migrated into BBMP areas due to their scavenging nature and it is quite natural. BBMP has a budget only for ABC and vaccination under its limits, hence it's worried about rabies from scavenging strays,' said a senior veterinary doctor in BBMP, adding that if infection is found in one stray dog, ring vaccination has to be done for at least 100 strays in the surrounding areas as a precaution. As per records, there are 31 gram panchayats spread across these zones. According to animal husbandry department officials, there are approximately 70,000 stray dogs in Bengaluru Urban excluding BBMP limits, and each Town Municipal Corporation and City Municipal Corporation decides its Animal Birth Control and Anti Rabies Programme. A GP official from Bidaraguppe, near Anekal taluk, adjacent to Bommanahalli zone, said in their limits, only 50 per cent of the Animal Birth Control programme was undertaken and there is no clarity on anti-rabies vaccination. Echoing this, an official of Mandur Gram Panchayat in Mahadevapura Zone says the plan regarding Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination among stray dogs in East taluk is yet to be discussed. 'There is a state as well as national goal to eliminate rabies by 2030. Our gram panchayat is yet to get directions on both programmes,' said the official.
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Justice league: Telangana HC refuses to stay toilet construction in school
Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court has dismissed a writ petition challenging the construction of a toilet complex at the Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) in Undavelly village, Jogulamba Gadwal district. The petition was filed by one B Nutan Kumar Reddy, a local resident, who alleged that the construction was illegal and posed health risks due to its proximity to homes and borewells. He sought relocation of the complex to another part of the campus, citing previous directions from the additional collector and local opposition. The Government Pleader informed the court that the toilet complex was being built within the school premises for the benefit of around 350 students, including over 180 girls. After considering the submissions, Justice Lakshman declined to interfere, stating that there was no sufficient ground to halt the construction. The petition was dismissed, permitting the ongoing work to continue. The decision has received mixed responses. While some residents remain concerned about the location, others have welcomed the development as a necessary improvement in school sanitation infrastructure. HC refers plea against 100% quota to chief justice Justice T Madhavi Devi has directed the Registry to place before the Chief Justice a writ petition, which challenges the 100% reservation for STs in gram panchayat, sarpanch and ward member posts in scheduled areas of Telangana, for allocation to an appropriate bench. The writ petition was filed by the Non-Tribal Welfare Society, represented by its secretary Kondabathina Madhu, seeking a declaration that the total reservation for STs in these posts is unconstitutional, contending that it violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India. The plea also cites the Supreme Court's judgment in Chebrolu Leela Prasad Rao & Ors vs State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors, which laid down limits on reservations in local body elections. Counsel for the petitioner argued that due to the blanket reservation, in some Scheduled Areas where no ST candidates are available, the Gram Panchayats are being administered by special officers instead of elected representatives. The petitioner urged the court to direct the authorities to allow non-tribal candidates to contest in such cases to ensure democratic governance at the grassroots level. After hearing the petitioner's counsel, Justice Madhavi Devi observed that the court cannot interfere in policy decisions of the government. She then directed the Registry to place the matter before the Chief Justice for appropriate bench allocation.
