359 Rurban Panchayats in Andhra Pradesh:
- Urban-style governance, infrastructure, and civic services will soon be made available in village panchayats. As part of administrative restructuring, the state government has identified 359 panchayats to be developed as “Rurban Panchayats.”
- These will be officially launched on April 24 (National Panchayati Raj Day). The government has directed the Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department to complete all necessary preparations before that date.
- Panchayats selected under this scheme have:
- A population of more than 10,000
- Annual income exceeding ₹1 crore
- For the first time, gazetted officers (Deputy MPDOs and senior Panchayat Secretaries) will be appointed as administrative heads in these panchayats. Promotions will be given to secretaries, and appointments will be made at the earliest.
Objective of Rurban Panchayats:
- The aim is to provide urban-like services in panchayats located near municipalities and municipal corporations.
- For example, areas like Gollapudi, Yanamalakuduru, and Ramavarappadu in Krishna district are geographically part of Vijayawada city but are still governed as panchayats. This has led to disparities in services—urban streets have LED lighting while nearby panchayat areas lack basic facilities.
- To eliminate such gaps, these panchayats will now be upgraded and developed on urban lines.
- A large number of Rurban Panchayats will be established in districts such as:
Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Prakasam, Eluru, Kakinada, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Anantapur, Kurnool, Tirupati, Vizianagaram, Chittoor, and SPSR Nellore.
Four Key Departments in Rurban Panchayats:
To ensure efficient administration, improved civic services, and better infrastructure, four dedicated departments will be established in Rurban Panchayats: Engineering, Planning, Public Health, and Revenue. These departments will form the backbone of governance and service delivery.
- Engineering Department:
- This department will handle the construction and maintenance of roads, drainage systems, buildings, and other essential infrastructure.
- It will also undertake emergency works and ensure the development of basic physical infrastructure.
- Planning Department:
- The Planning Department will focus on systematic and planned development.
- It will enforce mandatory building permissions, control encroachments, and play a crucial role in the preparation and implementation of master plans.
- Public Health Department:
- This department will be responsible for daily waste collection from households, street cleaning, mosquito control, and overall sanitation.
- It will ensure proper implementation of solid waste management systems.
- Revenue Department:
- The Revenue Department will play a key role in mobilizing financial resources required for development activities and infrastructure creation.
- It will support sustainable funding for local governance.
Staffing:
- Staff in selected Rurban Panchayats will be allocated to these four departments based on their interest and suitability.
- Services of employees from village secretariats will also be utilized.
- Wherever necessary, additional staff may be appointed through neighbouring services or outsourcing arrangements.
Category-wise Panchayat Distribution:
- Rurban Panchayats: 359
- Grade-1 Panchayats: 3,082
- Grade-2 Panchayats: 3,163
- Grade-3 Panchayats: 6,747
- Total Panchayats: 13,351