Asserting that the government would continue mounting pressure on the Centre seeking special status to Andhra Pradesh, release of funds for the Polavaram irrigation project and the capital city, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said the Centre had the responsibility of assisting the State in its development.
“All the neighbouring States have well-developed cities such as Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. We, too, need such a city, and the Centre must allocate funds without fail,” Mr. Naidu said while addressing a public meeting before attending the ‘Neeru-Chettu’ programme here. He added that as a result of the continuous efforts of the government, farmers from East Godavari district were able to achieve record yield of 55 bags of paddy per acre in the current rabi season.
Mr. Naidu said after Sir Arthur Cotton, it was the late N.T. Rama Rao who rendered the greatest service to farmers. “It was the late NTR who took initiative to release water for the second crop in Godavari districts. Cotton rendered commendable service in this area [East Godavari], and that is why the government is celebrating his birth anniversary as an official function,” he added.
The Chief Minister promised members of women self-help groups (SHGs) that SHG loans, too, would be waived on the lines of farm loans, and that the amount would be credited directly to the bank accounts. Calling on women to insist their spouses on construction of individual sanitary latrines in every household, Mr. Naidu wondered as to why people did not go for ISLs even in the age of mobile phones. “Every one of you is using technology. Is it not a shame on your part to go for open defecation?” he asked before announcing a financial support of Rs. 15,000 per ISL from the government.
