Hyderabad, August 15 INN: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said that the State Government would not compromise on the implementation of welfare schemes launched for the benefit of poor despite the financial constraints.
After inspecting the ceremonial parade at the Secunderabad Parade Grounds to mark the 66th Independence Day celebrations, the Chief Minister listed out the welfare programmes and schemes being implemented in the State. He asserted that the State has emerged as a role model in implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and had set a record in the entire country by spending Rs 21,500 crore on the scheme so far.
“We have provided 31 crore mandays this year by allocating Rs 2,900 crore,” he said. He said that the government has appealed to the Centre to apply the scheme to agriculture, handloom and if possible handicrafts sectors too. Stating that the government was making all efforts to take the State on the path of progress, he described his government as 'farmer-friendly'. He said that the government was paying the interest on the crop loan upto Rs 1 lakh for the benefit of about one crore farmers.
Admitting that the power crisis have cropped up due to shortage of inflows into reservoirs, gas supply and rise in consumption of power, Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the government was making efforts to overcome the situation by purchasing power, building new power plants and encouraging renewable energy.
Free power is being provided for 32 lakh agricultural electricity connections, he said.
The Chief Minister said that interest-free loans were being provided up to an amount of Rs 5 lakh under women's welfare.
Stating that the government has filled up about 1.20 lakh vacancies in various departments, he said that the government has provided jobs to about two lakh youth under the ambitious ‘Rajiv Yuvakiranalu’ employment scheme and it futher plans to provide employment to 15 lakh people in the next three years.
He stated the government has completed 14 of the 86 irrigation projects contemplated under the 'Jalayagnam'. Stating that 21 lakh hectares were being provided irrigation under the Jalayagnum, he said that 30 lakh hectares would be brought under the irrigation in the next two years. Regarding housing schemes, he said that about eight lakh houses for the poor have been completed and nearly 18 lakh houses were under the various stages of completion.
Under the ‘Rajiv Arogya Sri’ Health Scheme, he said that the government was providing free medical services to all poor white ration card holders and spending Rs 4,500 crore on 15 lakh poor people. He also said that the government was spending Rs 3,500 crore every year on the fee reimbursement scheme.
The Chief Minsiter said that about 7,500 kms of roads would be upgraded and Rs 4,500 crore have been allocated for the project for this purpose. He said that the government would leave no stone unturned to maintain law and order and act severely against those anti-social elements.
Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar, Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani, Deputy Speaker Mallu Batti Vikramarka, Chief Secretary Minnie Mathew, Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy and other important dignitaries were also present. The Chief Minsiter also distributed medals and certificates to the employees for their best services.
Earlier, the Chief Minister placed a wreath on Martyrs Memorial to pay homage to those who laid down their lives for the country.
- INN
(To subscribe to INN News & Photo Service contact: inn.custcare@gmail.com)
