Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Thursday inaugurated the Divisional Development Office (DDO) in Chittoor and virtually launched 76 more such offices across the state, calling it a major step toward strengthening rural administration. He said the new DDOs would act as “mini collectorates,” ensuring faster delivery of welfare and development services to the 70 per cent rural population of the state.

Addressing officials and coalition leaders, Pawan Kalyan praised the officers in his department, describing them as people committed to public welfare. He said they had raised key issues such as long-pending promotions for nearly 10,000 employees and the need for decentralised administration. “I am fortunate to work with officers who genuinely think about society,” he noted.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government had taken up long-delayed reforms in the Panchayati Raj system. Promotions for thousands of employees, pending for years due to litigation and administrative stagnation, were cleared transparently. “As the son of a government employee, I know the value of a promotion. We ensured merit-based decisions without political interference,” he said.

The new DDO offices, headed by RDO-level officers, will coordinate welfare schemes, monitor field-level activities, and serve as a bridge between the government and citizens. Pawan Kalyan said the restructuring, cancelling clusters, strengthening gram panchayats, appointing Panchayat Secretaries in all villages and setting up specialised wings, would make local governance faster and more accountable.

At a separate meeting with TDP, Jana Sena and BJP workers, he said the coalition’s unity had enabled structural reforms. “Power is meaningless if we do not deliver change,” he said, urging leaders to stay united for sustained development.

During his visit, Pawan Kalyan also inspected “Swachh Rathas,” introduced to promote cleanliness in villages, and interacted with citizens to receive petitions. He said the government, under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and with support from the Centre, was committed to restoring institutional strength and ensuring transparent governance.