Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said many in the State were suffering from eye problems and they did not approach doctors as they either neglected them or had no awareness on the same.
After formally launching the Kanti Velugu programme at Malkapur in Toopran mandal on Wednesday, he urged people to use the opportunity and get their eyes checked at the camps being organised by the government.
The Chief Minister also announced another major initiative of laying underground drainage system across the State. Addressing the villagers, Mr. Rao said as many as 825 teams were working across the State as part of Kanti Velugu and they would check each and everyone and offer medicines and spectacles. As part of the launch, he offered spectacles to four persons.
“I got the idea of conducting eye tests for everyone in the State after conducting a camp at Erravalli where 217 people were found suffering from different eye problems. For conducting surgeries, 180 hospitals in both private and public sectors have been identified. And 40 lakh spectacles have already arrived to be distributed for the needy,” he said. Admiring the unity among villagers, Mr. Rao said he was proud that Malkapur was in his constituency.
“Earlier, Collector Ronald Rose adopted the village and took several initiatives. Now, I request Collector K. Dharma Reddy to adopt the village. I will sanction ₹6 crore for its development which will be at his disposal,” he said. On the occasion, he sanctioned 100 2BHK houses in addition to the demand for 40 houses.
He said a community hall at an estimated cost of ₹75 lakh would be sanctioned for the village and repair of Shenaga Cheruvu would be taken up immediately. “All the tanks in the State would be filled with Godavari water, and Kaleshwaram water would irrigate the fields in the village by June 2019. We will be taking up underground drainage system across the State. The proposal is under technical consideration. It would be completed in five years,” said Mr. Rao.
Earlier, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao explained the developments that had taken place at the village and the role played by local youth. As many as 700 villagers handed over the documents of eye donation pledge to the Chief Minister.
