Pawan advocates population-based grading for Panchayats

Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to revamp the cluster system of village panchayats under the Panchayati Raj Department, proposing new guidelines that consider both population and income for grade divisions.

In a review meeting held at his camp office on Monday, Pawan Kalyan emphasized the need for equitable resource distribution and efficient staff appointments. The review, attended by principal secretary Shashibhushan Kumar, commissioner Krishna Teja, and senior officials, highlighted challenges posed by the existing system, which grades panchayats solely on income.

The Deputy CM has difected to form a committee comprising four senior Panchayati Raj officials will study the existing cluster system and recommend changes. The committee will evaluate reports from district collectors on the income and population data of panchayats in all 26 districts.

New guidelines will ensure a fair distribution of panchayat and secretariat staff based on the revised grading system. The Deputy CM pointed out disparities in staff allocation under the current income-based grading system, where some high-income panchayats have low populations, and vice versa. The proposed changes aim to balance administrative resources with actual population needs, ensuring effective governance and service delivery.