Setting up Indiramma committees has proven to be a headache for officials, with political leaders demanding a place for their supporters in the committees.

Khammam: Set up Indiramma Committeeswhich was embroiled in legal issues, proved to be a real headache for officials, with political leaders demanding a place for their supporters on committees.

It may be noted that the state government on October 11 issued GO 33 directing district collectors to constitute Indiramma committees after Mandal Parishad development officers in rural areas and municipal commissioners in urban areas submitted names for nomination to committees.

As per GO 33, at the gram panchayat (GP) level, the sarpanch or special officer would be the chairman of the committee and at the municipal ward level, the councilor/corporator would be the chairman while the panchayat secretary would be the convener at the general practitioner level and the district officer would be responsible at the municipal district level.

In both cases, two women from SHGs and three local people, one of whom must be from BC and one from the SC/ST communities, should be appointed to the committees that would select the beneficiaries.

However, ruling Congress leaders reportedly forced officials to appoint their supporters to the committees.

The leaders were using the names of ministers Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Tummala Nageswara Rao to put pressure on officials during the selection of Indiramma committee members.

In the Kothagudem Assembly, local CPI leaders reportedly put pressure on officials to appoint their party leaders to the committees. In the wake of these issues, the Indiramma committees which were to be formed by October 12 have not yet taken shape.

On the other hand, Congressional veterans were opposed to new leaders getting a place on committees.

Kothagudem District Youth Congress president A Pradeep has openly demanded that party workers who have been with the party when it was not in power and worked for its development should be placed in the committees Indiramma.

Pradeep said he and other party members met Kothagudem district president of the Congress party P Veeraiah and submitted a memorandum seeking to give priority to workers who have been working in the party for 10 years.

Those who joined Congress recently should not have a place on committees, he stressed.

It may be recalled that the High Court has already issued a notice to the government after hearing a petition filed by BJP leader A Maheshwar Reddy, who challenged GO 33, setting up Indiramma committees without reference to gram sabhas and committees neighborhood.

Similarly, Adivasi Advocates Association (AAA) state secretary and Adivasi Sena vice-president Sode Venkateshwarlu termed GO 33 as illegal in the case of restricted areas. Selection of beneficiaries should be done by the gram sabhas, subject to agency laws, he said.