Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N. Anand chaired the third regional conference for 15 southern and central districts here on Friday.
Addressing senior officials and civic body representatives, the Minister emphasised grassroots execution, transparency, and strict adherence to timelines for all welfare initiatives under ‘Vision Vetri Tamizhagam’ framework.
Top bureaucrats, Collectors, Block Development Officers, and engineers representing Madurai, Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Theni, Pudukottai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, and Chengalpattu districts participated in the meeting.
Highlighting the massive reach of the administration, Mr. Anand said the officials present were the direct custodians steering development across 5,093 village panchayats and 26,644 hamlets. He praised them for viewing their positions beyond mere government jobs, framing their duties as a noble calling to elevate the socio-economic status of rural and marginalized populations.
A major focus of the discussions centred around the newly introduced Tamil Nadu Village Development, Transformation, and Renaissance Initiative (TN-VETRI). The Minister detailed the rigorous Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises conducted across hamlets from October 7 to 17, following district and block-level training sessions held earlier in the month.
Officials were instructed to utilise these grassroots findings to formulate meticulous, need-based action plans for their respective panchayats. Concurrently, he stressed the critical importance of the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (VB-GRAM (G)) scheme, directing authorities to guarantee uninterrupted employment and timely wage credits directly into workers’ bank accounts.
With the Northeast monsoon currently active across the State, the conference laid down exhaustive precautionary guidelines. Panchayat secretaries, welfare workers, overhead tank operators, and worksite supervisors were ordered to remain on high alert and maintain direct communication channels with BDOs.
The directives mandated the immediate clearing of flood drainage pathways, minor bridges, and cross-drainage structures, alongside keeping heavy machinery such as cranes, de-watering motors, and fuel-powered chain saws ready to handle uprooted trees and inundated low-lying areas, said a press statement from the district administration.
Further, civic bodies were instructed to keep cyclone shelters fully equipped, ensure uninterrupted solid waste management, and maintain rigorous chlorination and cleaning schedules for all overhead tanks every 15 days to guarantee a safe daily supply of 55 litres of potable water per person.
To combat seasonal health hazards, particularly dengue, authorities ordered the deployment of Dengue Breeding Checkers (DBC) with district collector approvals, alongside joint field monitoring by block development officers, medical officers, and health supervisors. Adequate stocks of bleaching powder and vector-control supplies must be maintained across all panchayats, with immediate priority given to high-complaint zones.
Addressing infrastructural and administrative upkeep, the Minister directed officials to immediately clear damaged or dangerous trees, repair road potholes, and level margins to ensure unhindered public transit.
On public grievance redressal, he mandated immediate acknowledgments and swift resolution for prompt requests such as street light and borewell motor repairs or job card issuances, while longer-term infrastructural demands like Anganwadi centres and fair-price shops must undergo proper administrative processing.
Strict financial and administrative transparency was underscored, with the government warning that any deviations from the transparency in Tenders Act or procedural lapses would invite immediate departmental disciplinary action.
“Panchayat-level grievance registers must be diligently maintained and followed up,” Mr. Anand noted, and called for robust inter-departmental synergy between rural development teams, health officials, agricultural officers, the electricity board, and the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (TWAD) to seamlessly resolve basic civic issues.
Principal Secretary of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, Commissioner of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (Training) Dr. R. Anandakumar, Commissioner of the Directorate of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj V. Amudhavalli, Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women M. Arthi, Madurai District Collector Nishanth Krishna, and MLAs took part in the meeting.