State Minister for Ports and Infrastructure Ganta Srinivasa Rao said here on Saturday that the people of the city were development-oriented and hade least interest in politicking. They are more interested in development than petty politics. People by themselves were apolitical and so were their demands.
Participating in a financial assets distribution programme organised by the district administration in the constituency of Visakha South MLA and Government Whip Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao , he said that the people in old town were confronted with air pollution caused by the local port. Most people in the old town lived in slums and were poor. The local MLA Srinivasa Rao was concerned about their living conditions. He promised to use his good offices to pass on benefits of pucca housing, pensions to the aged and poor, ration cards and also a pollution-free environment in the old town.
Mr. Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao expressed happiness at the entire district administration landing in his constituency for disbursing financial assets to SHG women and LPG connections to women under the Deepam scheme and scholarships to students. He appealed to the new district collector and municipal commissioner to take cognizance of the poverty of people in his constituency.
Earlier, District Collector V. Seshadri said that 226 Self Help Groups were covered under the bank linkage programme and cheques for Rs.5.66 crore had been distributed. For those who make prompt repayments of loan, additional loan amount would be given to take care of their personal needs from the newly launched ‘Sri Nidhi’ Bank for women by the government. LPG connections under the ‘Deepam’ scheme had been given to 1178 SHG women.
GVMC Commissioner M.V. Satyanarayana assured the women that more women would be covered under the bank linkage programme through the Urban Community Development (UCD) programme of the GVMC. He lauded the women particularly the women groups for their role in empowerment of women.
Noted Singer known as Gazal Sreenivas presented special numbers on the sanctity of womanhood and on their proactive roles as mothers and wives. He asked men participants including the minister to appreciate their wives, their looks and the way they dress and tell them ‘I love you’ everyday.
Micro-credit plan
Joint Collector Praveen Kumar said that a micro-credit plan needed to be formulated to meet the needs of women and their families. He said that the LPG connections would be delivered at their doors. He asked women to report to him if anybody demanded bribes for passing on the governmental benefits to them.