The Journalist Post
Hyderabad/Mahabubabad | July 8, 2026
The Telangana Government on Wednesday launched statewide training programmes for the Comprehensive Village Development Plan (GP SAP), marking another major step towards strengthening Gram Panchayats and ensuring scientific, need-based rural development. The three-day programme aims to equip village-level public representatives and officials with the knowledge required to prepare comprehensive development plans, improve governance, and effectively utilise public funds.
On the first day of the programme, Sarpanches, Panchayat Secretaries, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development officials, and engineering staff from 1,478 Gram Panchayats across 72 Mandals participated in the training sessions conducted simultaneously across the state under the supervision of Additional Collectors (Local Bodies). The sessions focus on the preparation of village development plans, implementation of the Village-Based Planning (VBG) framework, utilisation of 16th Finance Commission funds, employment guarantee works, water conservation, sanitation, greenery initiatives, rural infrastructure development and inter-departmental coordination.
The state-level programme was formally inaugurated in Mahabubabad by Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Women & Child Welfare Minister Dr. Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, along with Panchayat Raj Commissioner Divya Devarajan. The event was attended by MP Balaram Naik, MLA Murali Naik, MLC Takkellapalli Ravinder Rao, senior officials and elected representatives.
Addressing the participants, Minister Seethakka said village development should be driven by the aspirations and needs of local communities rather than limited to infrastructure creation alone. She stressed that comprehensive development plans must address employment generation, natural resource conservation, women’s empowerment, social development, infrastructure, drinking water and future developmental needs.
The Minister observed that meaningful progress can only be achieved through close coordination among Gram Panchayats, women’s self-help groups, the Employment Guarantee wing, engineering departments, drinking water authorities and other government agencies. She urged officials to move away from departmental silos and work towards a common objective of holistic village development.
Describing the training programme as a roadmap for transforming villages, Seethakka said every Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary must gain a clear understanding of the guidelines governing the 16th Finance Commission funds and the provisions of the VBG-RAM-G framework. She cautioned that any expenditure made in violation of rules could result in delays in bill payments and instructed officials to ensure transparency, accountability and quality in every development activity.
The Minister underlined the importance of Gram Sabhas, stating that development plans prepared without public consultation would not reflect the actual needs of villages. She said villagers themselves should identify development priorities, while officials and elected representatives should work together to implement those priorities effectively.
Highlighting the role of public participation, Seethakka said the success of national programmes such as the Green Revolution, White Revolution, Blue Revolution and polio eradication campaigns demonstrated the importance of community involvement. She added that Telangana’s women’s self-help groups have also become a successful model of people’s participation in development.
The Minister instructed officials to expedite the construction of sanctioned Gram Panchayat buildings, women’s group buildings and Anganwadi centres and prepare a phased schedule for their inauguration across the state. She also emphasised water conservation, directing officials to work towards the goal of establishing a soak pit for every household, a farm pond for every field and a recharge structure for every village to improve groundwater levels, strengthen irrigation and promote environmental sustainability.
The statewide training programme will continue until July 10, providing field-level functionaries with practical guidance to implement the state’s vision of self-reliant and sustainably developed villages.
