Asserting that the payment due to banks on account of loan waiver would commence from this month-end, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has said his government is determined to reach the last mile in the implementation of the promise within six months.
Mr. Naidu was addressing the extended meeting of the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) State committee in Vijayawada on Thursday. He said the government had announced its resolve to waive crop loans upto Rs. 1.5 lakh to each family in the State. The government had set up a Farmers’ Empowerment Corporation not just to monitor the implementation of the loan waiver, but also recommend steps, in consultation with experts, to make agriculture remunerative. “The government is fully committed to fulfilling all the promises made to people before elections,” he averred.
The Chief Minister recalled how the agriculture sector was meted out “gross neglect” during the previous Congress regime that resulted in steep rise in input costs, deterioration of agriculture extension services and fall in remunerative prices. “We assure the farmers that the agriculture will be profitable in the days to come. From soil testing, marketing of agricultural produce and setting up of agri-based industries, the government will take all necessary measures to make farming a lucrative occupation,” he said.
As regards loan waiver assurance given to the Self Help Groups (SHGs), the government had decided to ensure that each member of the SHGs secured Rs.10,000. In addition, the government was committed to reimburse the interest paid by the SHGs.
Referring to power sector, Mr. Naidu alleged the Congress had derailed the power sector with its lopsided policies. The State was power surplus during his previous tenure as Chief Minister. But, 10 years of the Congress rule had seen to it that coal shortages, power outages and surcharges became the order of the day.
Andhra Pradesh was facing a deficit of over 80 Million Units a day when the TDP came to power. The government had initiated a series of measures to ensure that power supply was improved and the efficiency of the sector enhanced within four months of it assuming the office.
Stating that the Congress had deliberately weakened the public health care with false promises like Arogyasri which was of little help to genuine poor, he asserted that the government had taken steps to rejuvenate the primary healthcare centres, area hospitals and referral hospitals under NTR Vaidya Seva scheme. Insurance limit for the grass root level people was hiked to Rs. 2.5 lakh and more diseases were brought under the purview of the scheme.
Lambasting the Congress on its mining policies, the TDP president charged the Congress leaders with plundering natural resources. Sand quarrying was streamlined by involving the SHGs. Efforts were on to streamline mining and protect the natural resources and accordingly, the Government had decided to cancel barytes leases. “The Government will review all the decisions taken by the previous regime relating to mineral resources,” he said.
TDP polit bureau members, ministers, MPs, and MLAs were present. This is first meeting of the party in Vijayawada after the State was divided.
