Andhra Pradesh: Governor praises govt for providing Rs 4.23L crore benefits to all sections
VIJAYAWADA: Addressing the joint session of the State Legislative Assembly and Council on the first day of the Budget Session, Governor S Abdul Nazeer on Monday summed up the development and welfare initiatives of the government in the last five years.
In his speech that lasted nearly 80 minutes, the Governor elaborated on how the government brought about a change in various sectors.
The Governor commenced his speech by appreciating Jagan and the State administration for installing a 206-foot-tall statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at the cost of `404.25 crore in the heart of Vijayawada. He said it stands as a testimony to the government’s commitment to social justice, equality and empowerment.
“This pro-poor government has touched every section of society. Be it farmers, unemployed youths, auto drivers, weavers, senior citizens, women, children or any other member belonging to socially and economically backward groups, they have all benefitted in one way or the other from the government,” Nazeer said.
The TDP members staged a walkout from the House and raised slogans against the government even as the Governor was speaking.
Budget session to be held for four days
Later in the day, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) met under the chairmanship of Speaker Tammineni Sitaram. The TDP leaders did not attend it. It was decided to hold the Budget session for four days (till Feb 8). The finance minister will table the interim Budget on Feb 7
Navratnalu launched to improve HDI, says Guv
The Governor said soon after coming to power, the government observed that AP was falling behind other States in certain parameters such as quality of education, learning outcomes, nourishment to school children, IMR, MMR and anaemia among women. To raise the parameters of the Human Development Index, ‘Navaratnalu’ was launched to focus on social, economic and educational empowerment of targeted groups, he noted.
“The NITI Aayog, in its recent discussion paper jointly published with UNDP and Oxford Policy and Human Development initiative on Multi-Dimensional Poverty, has projected a steep decline in the poverty headcount ratio in AP to 4.9% in 2022–23 from 11.77% in 2015–16. With India aspiring to reduce the poverty ratio to single digits from the current 11.28% by 2023–25, the phenomenal performance of Andhra Pradesh demonstrates positive and tangible outcomes delivered by a galaxy of pro-poor schemes and policies of the state,” he noted.
Nazeer went on to elaborate on how the government prioritised the education and health sectors and noted that it firmly believed that investment in education always gives the highest returns. He spoke about the improvements and schemes in the health sector such as Dr YSR Village Health clinics, new medical colleges, recruitment of doctors and nurses, family doctor programme, Jagananna Aarogya Suraksha, 104 and 108 ambulances and YSR Aarogyasri.
Describing farmers as the backbone of AP, he spoke about YSR Rythu Bharosa, free crop insurance, input subsidy in the same cropping season, e-crop booking, and interventions in horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries sectors.
He explained how YSR Aasara, Sunna Vaddi, Cheyutha, Kapu Nestham, EBC Nestham, Disha App and Pedalandrik Indlu have contributed to women empowerment.
Guv’s address filled with half-truth: TDP leaders
TDP leaders, who staged a walkout from the Assembly, alleged that the Governor’s address was filled with half-truths. Speaking to reporters, the TDP leaders asserted that they will flag the failures of the Jagan government and bring the actual facts before the people during the Motion of Thanks