Telugu Desam Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the State government is evolving several welfare programmes for the poor and needy which will be operational soon. The government was proposing to provide insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh each to over 1.5 crore unorganised sector workers even as efforts were under way to cover all the poor households under the Deepam scheme providing LPG connections by the year-end. Mr. Naidu made the announcement during his inaugural speech at the Mahanadu, the TDP’s three-day conclave which got under way here on Friday.
He, however, did not specify the quantum of expenditure that would be incurred on the implementation of the schemes. “There is shortage of funds and the government is faced with the limitations under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act. But my government is trying its best to mop up resources. But we are committed to implementing the spree of welfare programmes including those that were not incorporated in the party’s manifesto,” he said.
The Chief Minister cautioned people against some political parties, the Congress and the YSR Congress in particular, that were trying to politicise the developmental programmes launched by his government. The collusion between the two parties was evident from the fact that the Congress leadership took the initiative to arrange for bail to YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy who was imprisoned in the disproportionate assets case.
The YSR Congress in particular was bent on creating obstructions to every project, including the capital city construction, the international airport at Bhogapuram and expansion of the Machilipatnam port. The main Opposition was also bent on encouraging violence and this was exposed in ample measure in the Tuni incident where a train was set on fire. “The conspiratorial politics of the YSR Congress is seeing the light of the day frequently,” he said.
Red sanders smuggling
Launching a scathing attack on the Opposition leader, he said the main Opposition was silent on the red sanders smuggling cases as some of its leaders were involved in the business. “We are firm on recovering the entire proceeds, if need be, by confiscating the properties of those found guilty of red sanders smuggling,” he said. Several leaders from Opposition parties were joining hands with the TDP as they were impressed with the development and welfare agenda of the government.
On the development side, Mr. Naidu said all the 24 pumps of the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme would be operational by next month enabling the government to divert 80 to 100 tmcft of Godavari water to Krishna delta. “Once this achieved, we will divert the same quantity of water from Srisailam to Rayalaseema which will be developed as a horticulture hub,” he said.
