JANGAON (WARANGAL DT): Setting a new trend and braving all odds, Major Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah surprised everybody by camping at a remote Goparajupalli village here on Wednesday night.

The villageis located some 70 km from district headquarters. It was declared `an ideal' village.

The Minister decided to convene a village meeting and review the implementation of various welfare schemes at ground level.

The Minister arrived around 9 p.m. on Wednesday amidst cheering crowds. Soon, he began the official meeting on the primary school premises. Scores of officers representing the various Government agencies turned up with files. The meeting held in the presence of the villagers, lasted for two hours.

Mr. Lakshmaiah interacted with beneficiaries and asked the officials reply to complaints of the villagers.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Lakshmaiah said that the Chief Minister had asked officials to camp in the rural areas to know about problems of people.

"I just wanted to set a precedence. I can now preach the officials after following it myself," he said.

Performance reviewed

In a village of 307 households, the Government had sanctioned 150 houses under the `Indiramma'.

The Minister woke up in the wee hours and went around milk collection centres and inquired about the rate being paid to the women.

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