Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan questioned delays in the salaries of Green Ambassadors during the Maata Manthi review meeting in Mangalagiri. He interacted with officials from Panchayat Raj, Rural Development and Rural Water Supply departments. They explained that Green Ambassadors were appointed to maintain village cleanliness. Moreover, they said the workers play a vital role in improving sanitation standards across rural areas.
Officials informed the Deputy Chief Minister that salary payments often face hurdles. They noted that several sarpanches create pressure or avoid clearing payments on time. Although the honorarium is very small, many workers wait several months for it. According to the officials, the issue was severe six months ago but has reduced recently. However, a few villages still face consistent problems with salary disbursal.
Pawan Kalyan expressed dissatisfaction with the behaviour of certain sarpanches. He said Green Ambassadors work daily to keep villages clean and deserve timely wages. Furthermore, he reminded officials that financial stress on these workers weakens the overall sanitation system. He advised administrators to address the issue quickly and ensure smoother coordination with local bodies.
The Deputy Chief Minister also issued a clear warning. If sarpanches fail to fulfil their responsibility, the government may transfer salary-related powers to village secretaries. He emphasised strict accountability and added that the state aims to strengthen rural cleanliness with better monitoring and efficient governance.
