Gram Panchayats across Telangana are facing a severe financial crisis, with both central and state governments failing to release funds for several months. Due to a lack of financial support, the Gram Panchayats are unable to cover essential expenses, such as wages. Panchayats with limited sources of revenue are struggling, forcing panchayat secretaries to take out personal loans to meet emergency needs.
The situation has become so dire that panchayat secretaries and special officials are pleading with authorities to release funds for basic necessities like wages, electricity bills, and EMIs. Due to the shortage of funds, sanitation services have collapsed, leading to the accumulation of garbage in many areas. Without the ability to even fuel garbage-collecting tractors, waste piles up, and the public are increasingly falling ill.
Panchayat secretaries are also concerned about the lack of funds for important festivals like Bathukamma and Dussehra, as well as for cleanliness and greenery initiatives. Previously, the BRS government prioritized the development of Gram Panchayats by releasing over Rs. 250 crores monthly, It allowed villages to thrive in terms of sanitation, greenery, and overall development.
However, this support has come to a halt in recent months. The last ten months have seen the government delay the release of nearly Rs. 2,500 crores for various village development projects, including an additional Rs. 1,300 crores under the Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Former sarpanches have expressed their frustration, stating that they have appealed to the government, the governor, and the opposition multiple times, but to no avail. With the tenure of elected sarpanches now expired, panchayat secretaries are taking on personal debt to fund even basic work.
The villages, known for their cleanliness and greenery during KCR’s rule, now face an uncertain future as development projects remain stalled and local governance struggles to function effectively.