District Collectors meet held here on Monday at Pragati Bhavan

Honourable Chief Minister Sri Chandrashekhar Rao has reiterated the need to strengthen rural economy and assured that the State government’s revenue growth can never be less than 15 per cent. He said the district collectors are given total powers to implement various innovative schemes launched by the government for strengthening the rural economy and uplifting the living standards of all sections. However, the CM said the Collectors should be cautious and careful that no mistake is done during the implementation of development and welfare programmes in the State.

Sheep-breeding

He was speaking at the District Collectors meet held here on Monday at Pragati Bhavan. The entire pre-lunch session of the District Collectors’ meet has veered around the innovative sheep-breeding scheme. In the course of discussions the CM has elicited the views, suggestions and opinion of the Collectors on the scheme. While once again laying emphasis on making the Telangana State a hub for meat export, the Chief Minister declared that sheep breeding will become a permanent feature for the Telangana State government and what is initiated now is only sowing seeds for a greater tomorrow. Initially, the sheep breeding may create wealth of Rs 20,000 crore in next two years, but ultimately it will touch the sky, he said.

The CM said, Sheep breeding should become an industry and the State should become a great meat exporting State. “We have already issued guidelines for sheep breeding. There about 30 lakh Yadav and Kuruma families in the state. It is big human resource. This is our expertise. Collectors should be the great leaders in taking the imitative forward. All veterinary doctors posts will be filled up. Sheep population is about 44 lakh in the State according to SKS Survey. Another 84 lakh sheep will be purchased from outside the State. 21 Sheep will form a Unit. Expenditure on each Unit is about Rs 1.25 Lakh. Of this 75 per cent (Rs 93,750) is subsidy from the Government and the rest 25 per cent (Rs 31,250) to be borne by the individual beneficiary. 4.5 Lakh beneficiaries to be identified. Membership fee is Rs 51 per person. Eligibility is the person should be above 18 years of age and should be from Shepherd community,” the CM explained.

However, he wanted the Collectors to decide whether to form new societies or the existing ones will do the needful. “If the existing societies can extend new membership, there is no point in forming new societies. “But I leave the matter to Collectors.”

“MRO/MPDO and Veterinary doctors will form a team to buy sheep from other states.  One Mobile Van is provided in each Assembly segment for the mobile vet clinic. But procure sheep from June 20, 2017. Organise district level conferences on the scheme. Collectors should implement the scheme within the broad framework of the scheme in procuring sheep,” the CM said.

On fodder, the CM said Stylo grass could be grown on the forest lands and the lands owned by the Shepherds. Adequate publicity should be given to the programme. If need be, beneficiary should also be invited while procuring sheep. The district Collectors should implement this programme with total commitment as it strengthens the rural economy, he said.

2 BHK Houses

On the 2BHK houses, the CM said that in each Assembly Constituency 1400 houses would be constructed. Identify the beneficiaries with help of MRO/RDO. Develop transparent methods to identify the beneficiaries. Total powers are given to the Collectors. Aadhar card may be used as criteria. Adopt transparent lottery system in front of the Gram Sabhas. MLA will determine the numbers,” he said.

Single women

The CM said there about 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh single women in the State. Identify them for the pension scheme.

Beedi workers

There are 81,000 Beedi workers in the State who have Provident Fund. Identify them for the pension scheme.

Growth Rate

The state’s economic growth is very good. State Own Revenue (SOR) for the second quarter for 2016-17 is 21 per cent. The Union Finance Ministry put the growth at 19.5 per cent. The growth rate can never be less than 15 per cent, the CM said.

Collectors and SP office complexes

The CM said construction of office complexes for Collectors and SPs in the district are at various stages of completion and they all should be ready by end of this year to be functional from the next year. He said the Police Office complexes would be done by the TS Police Housing Corporation.

A word of caution to Collectors

The CM asked the Collectors to keep in mind that Telangana State is newly formed State. Development is top on agenda of the government. Urban economy is marching forward. Elimination of poverty is the key factor. Mapping the human resource is very important. Farmers in the erstwhile Mahbubnagar district are happy as they are getting water from Krishna. If the entire state gets water for irrigation the State’s economy will flourish. The state has quality of power supply now and has connected with the North Indian Grid. No problem at all in the power sector. Use the quality resources, he said.

In all, the CM said the Collectors are to identify 10 lakh beneficiaries under Sheep-breeding, Single Women, Beedi workers pension Scheme and sanction of 2BHK houses in the district. He asked the collectors not to come under any political pressure what so ever.

Participants

Deputy Chief Minister Sri Mahmood Ali, Ministers Sri T Harish Rao, Sri Jupally Krishna Rao, Sri KT Rama Rao, Sri Laxma Reddy, Sri T Srinivas Yadav, Mission Bhagiratha VC Sri Vemula Prashanth Reddy, Mining Corporation Chairman Sri Subhash Reddy, TS Police Housing Corporation Chairman Sri Damodar, Chief Advisor Sri Rajiv Sharma, Chief Secretary Sri SP Singh, DGP Sri Anurag Sharma, Senior officials from the CMO, Senior Secretaries and HoDs attended the meeting.

-Press note