VIJAYAWADA: Stating that the development of villages will lead to the development of the country, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday announced that the Centre will soon release more than Rs 1,000 crore for Panchayats to expedite development works.
Participating in a Grama Sabha at Vanapalli village of Kothapeta Assembly constituency in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, Naidu said,
“We had already released Rs 998 crore for Panchayats, which was diverted by the previous government. We will soon release Rs 1,100 crore for taking up development works in Panchayats.”
The State government held 13,326 Grama Sabhas across the State in a single day on Friday. Ministers, MLAs and other elected representatives and officials participated in the village meetings to identify and approve works.
Terming the event historic, Naidu congratulated Deputy Chief Minister and Panchayat Raj Minister Pawan Kalyan for proposing to hold the Gram Sabhas.
Accusing the previous government of treating Sarpanches as ceremonial idols, Naidu said he firmly believes that a Sarpanch is equally important for the development of a village as an MLA is for an Assembly segment.
Naidu assured people that working days under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme will be increased to 21.5 crore from 15 crore.
Lashing out at the previous regime for neglecting Panchayats in the State, the Chief Minister alleged that not even a single road was laid in any village across the State in the last five years.
New sand policy will be launched on September 11, announces Naidu
Naidu said under Article 243A, a Grama Sabha’s consent is required for any kind of functioning of a Sarpanch and asked whether the previous government had conducted even a single village meeting in any part of the State in five years.
“People were mobilised under threat by the previous government and even the common man was not allowed to come out of the house when the Chief Minister ventured out,” he recounted.
In a jibe at the previous government, the Chief Minister said while his government laid CC roads covering 27,444 km from 2014-19, the previous YSRC regime only laid 6,643-km CC roads in the last five years. “The previous TDP government had constructed 9,838 sheds for the people in villages to make vermicompost in their villages. A person, who is fond of painting his party colours, painted these sheds with his party colours, but did nothing to continue the programme,” Naidu said referring to former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
He pointed out that the previous TDP government had installed 25.22 lakh LED street lights, but the negligence of the successive government has resulted in 40% of them not in working condition now.
Highlighting that a Skill Census is being conducted, considering that the educated youth need to upskill for getting employment, the Chief Minister felt that the youth can earn double their current revenue, if they have proper skills.
Announcing that a new sand policy will be launched on September 11, Naidu said sand will be door delivered, if the buyer registers with the Secretariat.
Stressing that Telugu people should reach the great heights, the Chief Minister appealed to the people to increase the population.
“Though I have earlier called for proper family planning, now I am urging the people to produce more children,” he said.
LoP status is given, can’t be demanded: CM
Responding to YSRC chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy demanding Leader of Opposition status, Naidu said the LoP status is something that is given by the people after electing a leader. “The LoP status should be given by people. It cannot be sought under threat or intimidation,” Naidu quipped