GUNTUR: On the occasion of Dr B R Ambedkar Jayanti, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to social justice and the upliftment of underprivileged communities, particularly Dalits.
Speaking at a public meeting in Ponnekallu village of the Tadikonda constituency on Monday, he announced the revival of the Ambedkar Overseas Education Scheme, aimed at assisting Scheduled Caste (SC) students in pursuing higher education abroad. He also promised to establish more residential schools to ensure quality education for marginalized children.
Naidu participated in the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations by paying floral tributes and interacting with locals as part of the “Margadarsi-Bangaru Kutumbam” (Mentor-Golden Family) initiative. He criticized the previous YSRCP government for its lack of action regarding public welfare and He condemned the opposition for spreading false claims about cow deaths in Tirumala. He questioned their sudden display of religious devotion, given their history of temple desecration.
Recalling various instances of misinformation, including the pink diamond conspiracy and the murder of YS Vivekananda Reddy, he accused the previous YSRCP regime of manipulating public sentiment through lies to secure electoral victories. “If we don’t expose such conspiracies, it will harm society,” he warned.
Naidu strongly defended the P4 (Public-Private-People-Partnership) model, describing it as a revolutionary welfare initiative aimed at eliminating poverty and inequality.
7,000 students benefitted from overseas scheme during TDP’s earlier rule: CM
“Those criticising P4 don’t even understand it. Have they ever helped even one family in their lives?” Naidu questioned. Under this initiative, 11 individuals have committed to adopting 369 poor families in Ponnekallu.
The Chief Minister honoured the mentors who volunteered to support these families, referring to the programme as an extension of the Janmabhoomi initiative he launched during the then united Andhra Pradesh government in 2004, which aimed to mobilise NRIs for village development.
During the event, beneficiaries shared their challenges. Srigala Neelima, a widowed mother of two working at a grocery store for Rs 8,000 a month, received assurance from the Chief Minister for her son’s ear surgery, funded through the CMRF. Highlighting the achievements of the SC Sub-Plan during the previous TDP regime, Naidu noted that Rs 27,737 crore was spent from 2014 to 2019 on various welfare schemes for SCs, including agriculture, drinking water, and housing.
He pointed out that over 7,000 students benefited from Rs 467 crore disbursed under the overseas education scheme during that period, while the YSRCP government supported only 430 students. In a virtual interaction, beneficiaries of the Ambedkar Overseas Education Scheme expressed their gratitude. K Ratnalatha, a network engineer in Australia, credited Naidu for transforming her life. Anil, an engineer in Canada earning Rs 60 lakh per year, stated his desire to assist others through the P4 programme. Both pledged to support families in their native villages.