Khammam: Political leaders are pushing for their supporters to be included in the newly-formed Indiramma committees. This has made the process difficult for authorities, especially since these committees were already facing legal challenges.
On October 11, the State government issued an order (GO 33) instructing District Collectors to form these committees. In urban areas, municipal commissioners were asked to submit names, while in rural areas, mandal parishad development officers were responsible for the nominations.
According to the order, a sarpanch or special officer would lead the committee at the village (Gram Panchayat) level, and a councillor or corporation would head it at the municipal ward level. The panchayat secretary would act as the convener in villages, and the ward officer would do the same in municipal wards. The committees also needed to include two women from self-help groups (SHGs) and three locals, ensuring representation from Backward Classes (BC) and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST).
However, leaders from the ruling Congress party have been pressuring officials to appoint their loyal supporters to these committees. Prominent ministers like Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and Tummala Nageswara Rao’s names are being used to influence the selection process.
Additionally, local leaders from the CPI (Communist Party of India) in the Kothagudem Assembly are reportedly pressuring officials to include their party members in the committees.
