The Telangana Government is committed to further strengthening women’s empowerment in Hyderabad as part of its vision to make one crore women financially self-reliant, said State Transport and BC Welfare Minister and Hyderabad District In-Charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar.
Addressing a high-level review meeting with GHMC Commissioner, Additional Commissioners, Zonal Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and senior officials at the GHMC headquarters, the Minister reviewed the progress of key development and welfare programmes across Greater Hyderabad.
Officials made detailed presentations on major projects such as HCITI (H-City), SRDP, Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP), roads and stormwater drains, sanitation, public health, IT, town planning, women’s welfare, urban self-help groups, environment, and air quality (NCAP).
With the term of the current GHMC governing body ending in 20 days, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said the responsibility of officials has increased further and urged them to stay alert and give top priority to public grievance redressal. Deputy Commissioners were directed to ensure speedy completion of works in their respective jurisdictions.
The Minister emphasized the government’s focus on women’s economic empowerment and welfare. He said the number of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Greater Hyderabad, currently at over 72,942, should be increased to more than one lakh, with a target of enrolling 15 lakh women members. He directed that every woman from BPL families must be included in SHGs.
Through SETWIN, women SHG members in the city will be provided training in various livelihood skills to enable them to become self-reliant. The Minister noted the success of providing electric buses to rural SHGs for income generation and announced that 40 to 50 electric buses will be provided to SHGs in Greater Hyderabad as well.
He instructed officials to complete HCITI, SRDP, and SNDP works on a time-bound basis and to pay special attention to pollution control, protection of air quality, and conservation of groundwater. He also directed that rainwater harvesting pits must be made mandatory during house construction.
Highlighting the importance of sanitation, the Minister said Hyderabad’s clean brand image depends on solid waste management and ordered that cleanliness drives be conducted regularly and effectively. He also called for proper functioning and monitoring of Basti Dawakhanas and Indiramma Canteens.
Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi thanked the State Government, public representatives, officials, and citizens for their support during the five-year tenure of the GHMC governing body.
TGRTC Chairman and Managing Director V. Nagi Reddy stated that electric buses are being increased in phases to reduce air pollution. He also stressed the need to improve bus connectivity to MMTS and Metro stations to strengthen public transport.
The GHMC Commissioner announced that monitoring of cleanliness will now be assigned to engineers instead of medical officers, and assured that HCITI, SRDP, and desilting works will be completed within stipulated timelines.
Deputy Mayor Srilatha Shobhan Reddy, Additional Commissioners Srujana, Vinay Krishna Reddy, Anurag Jayanti, Hemanth Keshav Patil, Zonal Commissioners, and other officials attended the meeting.
22 Compassionate Appointment Letters Issued
After the meeting, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi distributed compassionate appointment letters to 22 candidates as Office Subordinates and Junior Assistants at the GHMC head office. The Minister urged the newly appointed staff to work with dedication and bring a good name to GHMC.