Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s Independence Day speech at the Parade grounds here on Wednesday was a mere rhetoric. He stuttered several times to read out from the 23-page speech in Telugu. He mispronounced several Telugu words and also omitted some words. He even jumbled the figures when he said the government was running 572 ‘108’ services instead of saying 752.
Though the chief minister was unsteady in reading out the speech, he was steadfast in his goal of following the path of Indira Gandhi. Chanting the development mantra after unfurling the tricolour at the Parade grounds to mark the 66th Independence Day, Kiran Kumar Reddy said: “Taking inspiration from Indira Gandhi, we believed that development is possible with hard work, vision, commitment and discipline. We are following the words of Indira Gandhi... The people of the state have much better time in future.”
He listed out various development and welfare programmes and announced that they would be continued with renewed vigour for the overall development of the state.
During his mention about law and order, the chief minister said, “The state has a good culture of people of all the regions and groups living together.” On implementation of Mee Seva programme, Reddy said, “I believe that what is unethical is not good for politics too. I am also believing that the satisfaction in doing service to the people would not be there leading them.” His government was trying for balanced development of all the regions and people of all the groups, he said.
The fine variety of paddy would be purchased in the state at Rs 1,500 per quintal against the Centre’s support price of Rs 1,280. Around Rs 2,500 crore would be spent on farm mechanisation in the next three years to reduce farming cost.
On water schemes, he said he was trying very hard to get the national project status both for Polavaram and Pranahita-Chevella projects. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) would be implemented for agriculture and also for weavers and other artisans. Under the NREGS, the state so far spent Rs 21,500 cr and it was a record in the country.
The self-help group women would get Rs 25,000 loan within 48 hours with an SMS request, he said.
On his pet programme Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, the chief minister said so far 2 lakh jobs were provided to youths, of the targeted 15 lakh jobs in three years. The government had earmarked Rs 777 crore for training of unemployed youth under the programme.
The chief minister gave away prizes for the tableaus of the Cultural department, AP Dairy Development Corporation and Tourism department which were adjudged the best and a consolation prize for the tableau of the Forest department.