Chennai, June 3 (IANS) In a major administrative move aimed at improving governance at the grassroots level, the Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has appointed ministers in charge of each district to monitor development programmes, oversee welfare delivery, and coordinate emergency response measures during natural disasters and public health crises.

The decision was announced through a government order issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department on June 2. According to the official release (June 3), the state government has been continuously taking proactive measures to ensure that welfare schemes and development initiatives reach the public quickly and effectively across all sectors.

The government noted that during situations such as natural disasters, epidemics, and other emergencies, there is a need for closer supervision and faster implementation of relief and development activities at the district level.

To strengthen the existing monitoring mechanism, the government had earlier appointed senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers as Monitoring Officers for every district. These officers have been tasked with reviewing the implementation of government schemes, assessing ground-level progress, and coordinating responses during emergencies.

The latest order expands this framework by bringing ministers directly into the monitoring process. The government said the move is intended to provide greater political oversight and improve coordination between various departments, local administrations, and elected representatives.

Under the new arrangement, designated ministers will be responsible for reviewing development works in their assigned districts, ensuring the timely delivery of welfare benefits, identifying implementation bottlenecks, and taking corrective measures wherever necessary.

They will also play a key role in coordinating relief and rehabilitation efforts during floods, cyclones, disease outbreaks, and other unforeseen emergencies. Officials said the district-in-charge ministers will work closely with district collectors, monitoring officers, and local authorities to ensure that government programmes are implemented efficiently and that public grievances receive prompt attention.

The order assigns specific ministers to each of Tamil Nadu’s revenue districts. Senior ministers, including those holding portfolios such as Revenue, Municipal Administration, Public Works, Higher Education, Industries, Agriculture, Health, and Transport, have been given responsibility for one or more districts.

The government believes the initiative will strengthen administrative accountability, improve coordination between the state and district administrations, and help ensure that development projects and welfare measures reach beneficiaries without delay across Tamil Nadu.

–IANS

aal/uk