Telangana government assures welfare measures for Village Organization Assistants
Hyderabad: The Telangana government is committed to the welfare, service security and financial stability of Village Organization Assistants, Panchayat Raj, Rural Development, Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka said on Friday.
Addressing a special meeting with Village Organization Assistants at the Panchayat Raj Commissioner’s office in Anand Nagar Colony, Khairatabad, the Minister reviewed the facilities available to them and discussed challenges faced during service.
Seethakka said Village Organizations play a vital role in strengthening women’s self-help groups and promoting economic empowerment in rural areas. She added that Village Organization Assistants have been instrumental in managing these institutions effectively.
The Minister stated that Telangana remains one of the few states providing honorariums to VOA personnel in recognition of their services.
Village Organization Assistants receive honorarium support
According to Seethakka, the government provides a monthly honorarium of ₹5,000 to VOA personnel working with 17,609 Village Organizations under GO No. 58.
For this purpose, the government releases ₹8.80 crore every month and ₹105.60 crore annually. So far, it has released more than ₹661.92 crore towards honorariums for Village Organization Assistants. The Minister said the government has also created multiple income streams for Village Organizations to improve their financial sustainability.
Village Organizations receive a 0.3 percent commission on bank linkage loans. As a result, they earn nearly ₹50 crore to ₹52 crore annually across the state. On average, each Village Organization receives more than ₹28,500 in income every year.
Village Organization Assistants to benefit from new measures
Seethakka said Village Organizations receive 90 percent of the marketing commission generated through IKP procurement centres. Last year, 3,195 Village Organizations earned average profits of ₹2.70 lakh each through this arrangement. In addition, they receive income through margin interest on Streenidhi loans.
The Minister said the government had already issued guidelines enabling Village Organization Assistants to receive additional honorariums of up to ₹25,000 per month, depending on the income generated by their Village Organizations.
Furthermore, the government is implementing life insurance, accident insurance, maternity benefits, pensions and social security assistance for families of deceased VOA personnel.
Seethakka also announced that the government would soon distribute identity cards and uniform sarees to VOA personnel. Moreover, it plans to provide tablets to Village Organizations in phases to strengthen digital services.
The Minister said special training programmes for new bookkeepers would reduce the workload on VOA personnel. She reiterated that the government would continue to address issues concerning Village Organization Assistants through a positive and supportive approach.