The Chief Minister Mr. N Kiran Kumar Reddy, on the eve of the 65th Republic Day, greeted the people of the State.
The Chief Minister in his message said “On the eve of the historic occasion of the 65th Republic Day, I wish the people of the State and all the Telugu brethren all over the world peace, happiness, prosperity and development. I also pay my humble tributes to the Constitution makers, National leaders, freedom fighters and scores of martyrs who relentlessly fought and sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country and in establishing the Sovereign Democratic Republic of India”.
The Chief Minister said “Andhra Pradesh is marching ahead and is one of the fastest developing State in the country today. “We have already cleared industrial investment worth more than Rs.2 lakh crs since 2011 providing employment to 4.38 lakh youth and a few days ago in the State Investment Promotion Board meeting cleared investment projects with an investment of Rs.6500 crs. The State provides the lowest power tariff to the investors and industrialists in the country”.
Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said “Today, the 26th January is one of the most memorable days in Indian history as it was on this day in 1950, the Constitution of India came into force and India became a sovereign democratic Republic. When India gained freedom from the British Empire on 15th August, 1947, there was a need to regulate the meaning of freedom. On this day in 1950, the country became a sovereign democratic Republic with a written Constitution and Parliament with elected members”.
He said the State annual plan outlay of Rs.53,000 crs for the year 2013-14 approved by the Planning Commission was an enhancement of 8.2% over previous year’s outlay of Rs. 48,935 crs and stood second in the country in the annual plan outlay for 2013-14. per capita income of Andhra Pradesh is 5.29% in 2012-13 as against India’s 4.96%. The Planning Commission appreciated the achievements made by Andhra Pradesh and the initiatives for welfare & development, especially the SCSP/TSP Act & convergence of health parameters and initiatives under social sector like health, nutrition etc
The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh is marching ahead. It is the most happening State in the country today. He said that even in the difficult situation prevailed in the State, Andhra Pradesh made rapid strides in all sectors in the last three years, He said it was a matter of pride and satisfaction that Andhra Pradesh bagged the “Best Performing State in Governance” award at the prestigious India Today ‘State of the States’ conclave in New Delhi. He said Andhra Pradesh also stood first in citizen services and people’s welfare schemes in the country.
Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said Andhra Pradesh also stood 2nd in spending on education resulting in better performance in education and also 2nd in overall performance among the States next only to Kerala. He said law and order was maintained with peace and harmony without using even a single rubber bullet in spite of several disturbances. The Chief Minister said crime rate also reduced in Andhra Pradesh compared to an increase at the national level.
He reminded that the State had presented a budget of Rs.1.61 lakh crore for 2013-14 fiscal year in the Legislative Assembly. Introduced with a heavy accent on welfare, the budget is 10 per cent higher than the previous year’s outlay of Rs.1.45 lakh crs. Plan expenditure is estimated at Rs.59,422 crore (up 10 per cent over the previous year’s Rs.54,030 crore) while the non-plan allocation had an increase from Rs.91,854 crs. to Rs.1.01 lakh crs.
The Chief Minister said that it may be recalled here that the State had mounting dues to the tune of Rs.9,000 crs towards students scholarships, pavala vaddi subsidy for farmers and SHG women etc. He said his Government ensured a turnaround in financial management. This has helped the State to give interest free loans to farmers and 1.45 crore women. This is more than half of that is borrowed by all the women groups across the country. The State Government ensured that only the targeted beneficiaries gain from the schemes.
Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Andhra Preadesh is the only State providing free power is the largest number of farmers since last 10 years. He stated that Andhra Pradesh is the first State in the country to enact the SC-ST sub plan which will help in the development of the down-trodden sections. Ranked as the best investment destination, Andhra Pradesh is way ahead of many other States in IT, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Housing, Welfare Schemes, Education, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Poultry etc. Andhra Pradesh also contributed immensely to the food security of the nation. We had record food production for the last few years. Our aim is to see that the benefit of each of the welfare programmes reach the targeted genuine beneficiary.
The Chief Minister said that for the last three years, the State Government has launched several new initiatives and schemes like Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu to provide employment to youth. He said Re.1-a-kg Rice, ensuring food security to 7.5 crore people, Indira Jala Prabha, irrigating over 10 lakh acres, benefitting 6 lakh poor, SC & ST families, Interest-free crop loans up to Rs.1 lakh benefitting 1 crore farmers, Easy and interest-free loans to 1.49 crore women up to Rs.5 lakhs, “Indiramma Amrutha Hastham”, providing a meal every day to 2 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers at a cost of Rs.100 crores, Scholarships and fee reimbursements to the tune of Rs.3,500 crores per year for 27 lakh students, Rajiv Aarogyasri healthcare schemes covering crores of people, “Mee Seva” for easy and fast processing of citizen services like issuing of certificates of land holdings and birth, death and income certificates, “Indiramma Illu”, and 1,25,000 government jobs for unemployed and deserving candidates.
The Chief Minister said that today the world looks at India to take the strategic leads. “On this historic occasion, let us all reiterate our pledge to make India one of the greatest nation and ensure equality of opportunity to one and all. Once again I convey my Republic Day greeting to the people of Andhra Pradesh”, the Chief Minister said in his message.(NSS)
