In Telangana state, once again the sufferings of sarpanches have come to light. 18 sarpanches in Wankidi mandal of Asifabad district recently resigned from the BRS party. It has become the talk of the state. The serpents are expressing their impatience that the funds are being diverted by the center and sent directly but they are being used without their knowledge. They are angry that the government, which is pressurizing them into doing village development works is not supporting them in the matter of funds.
A few years ago, the sarpanches started protesting in many places questioning the government’s behavior. They became agitated when the bills for the development works done in the Gram Panchayats did not arrive. They complain that they do not get the bills if they do the work by taking debt. They protested in front of the Collectorate expressing his concern that the interest on the arrears had increased and he was stuck in debt. Some of them were begging and harassing the government. However, the central government then took a key decision in the matter of Gram Panchayat funds which shocked the state government. Steps have been taken to ensure that the funds reach the panchayats directly.
There is a total of 12,769 Gram Panchayats in Telangana. Every year the center gives funds to the villages on the basis of population. But there are allegations that the state government is using the funds for other purposes instead of the village’s needs. Also, getting the bills to the sarpanches is getting delayed. It was in this order that the new system was brought after the sarpanches complained to the central government. Due to this, there are opportunities to get bills immediately after doing the work in the villages. But the sarpanches are alleging that the state government is interfering in this too.
It is said that as soon as the central funds reach the bank accounts, they are drawn by the mandal level officials without their involvement. The sarpanches are alleging that Mandal-level officials are issuing checks with the help of digital keys without their involvement on the instructions of district panchayat officials and divisional-level officials. 18 sarpanches of the Asifabad district resigned from the BRS party in protest against the government.