VIJAYAWADA: Reviewing the performance of his Cabinet colleagues, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu noted that while he had given them six months to prove their effectiveness, underperformers will no longer be tolerated, as their performance will now be continuously monitored.
During a Cabinet meeting he chaired on Thursday, Naidu revealed the performance of Ministers regarding the clearance of files up until December 2024. Sources indicated that Minority Welfare Minister NMD Farooq topped the list for clearing files, while Labour and Factories Minister Vasamsetti Subhash ranked last.
The Chief Minister himself ranked sixth in file clearance, while Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh and MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas were reportedly in second and third places, respectively. IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh ranked eighth, while Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan stood tenth.
Ministers holding key portfolios not on top
Reports show that three Ministers from the JSP and the sole BJP Minister were among the top 10 performers. Interestingly, Ministers responsible for key departments such as Finance, Water Resources, Revenue, and Home were ranked lower.
It was also learned that the Cabinet discussed the effective implementation of the mid-day meal scheme. Lokesh explained the changes made to the menu based on students’ preferences in various regions of the State. Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar reportedly informed the Cabinet about the availability of a premium variety of rice for mid-day meal.
Will implement major poll promises in the next three months: Naidu
Major election promises, including Thalliki Vandanam, Annadata Sukhibhava, and other schemes, will be implemented within the next three months, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said during the Cabinet meeting on Thursday.
Stating that his government is committed to fulfilling all promises made to the people, Naidu has reportedly issued clear instructions for the implementation of the Thalliki Vandanam scheme (Rs 15,000 financial aid to mothers of school-going children) starting from the next academic year. The Matsakara Bharosa scheme (Rs 20,000 aid to fishing families during the ban on fishing) and Annadata Sukhibhava (Rs 20,000 to farmers, including Rs 6,000 provided by the Centre under PM-KISAN) will be rolled out in three instalments. Currently, the Centre provides Rs 6,000 to farmers in three instalments each year, with the State government also providing the remaining Rs 14,000 in three instalments.
Naidu explained that the State government will release its share of funds in three instalments, alongside the financial assistance credited by the Centre, directly into the accounts of farmers. He instructed his Cabinet colleagues to finalise the guidelines for implementing the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme as soon as possible.
Emphasising that no further hikes in electricity charges will be imposed, he stated that tariffs should be reduced, if possible, through comprehensive power management.