Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy today categorically said that ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ (FDI) would help the farmers, fishermen, shepherds and so on to get remunerative prices for their produces. These foreign firms would invest up to Rs 500 crores in retail trade in cities with more than 10 lakh population like Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, he added.
Addressing inland fishermen and SHGs at Atmakur in Mahbubnagar district, the Chief Minister announced that his government was making efforts for increasing production of fish and fish products from the present Rs 11,000 to 20,000 crores in a year. The Chief Minister said that ‘Nala Cess’ has been abolished for fisheries and agriculture-based sectors. He said the government has already asked the committee headed by a retired judge for consideration of conversion of fishermen caste group into ‘A’. He said the government was providing Indiramma housing, community halls, 10,000 ice boxes and financial assistance to ‘Matsya Mitra’ groups.
Inaugurating Indiramma Baata program in Devarakadra mandal of the district earlier, the Chief Minister said that his government would spend about Rs 600 crores for the uplift of some 40,000 Disabled Groups across the State by the end of his year. The Chief Minister also participated in the face-to-face program with various “Pratibhavanthula Sanghams”. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that of the 40,000 groups, 14,300 Disabled groups were given financial assistance of Rs 212 crores. Some 1.4 lakh out of 3.46 lakh disabled persons were extended financial assistance, he added.
The Chief Minister said that under Rajiv Vidya Mission program, 385 Disabled Welfare Centers at a cost of Rs 300 crores were opened for providing improved implements and tri-cycles to them. Besides, eight lakh physically handicapped persons were being paid Rs 500 monthly pension. He also said that his government was providing 3% reservation to the disabled persons in employment opportunities and Disabled Marriage Incentive would be increased from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000, he added. The Chief Minister sprang a surprise by taking a seven-year-old physically handicapped Akanksha into his lap and directed the officials to extend financial help to the hapless girl.
Devarakadra MLA Sita Dayakar Reddy also spoke at the face-to-face with the disabled persons. Ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, D.K. Aruna, K. Parthasarathy, district legislators and district Collector M. Girija Shankar were present. (NSS)