VIJAYAWADA: Eight months of strenuous efforts have revived the State economy, which was on a ventilator due to the misgovernance of the previous YSRCP regime, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre for their timely help in putting Andhra Pradesh back on the track of growth.
In reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s address in the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the second day of the ongoing budget session, the Chief Minister said the three parties -- TDP, JSP and BJP -- had not formed the coalition government for selfish motives, but in the larger interests of the State. “State’s development is only possible with double engine government -- NDA at the Centre and in the State,” he asserted.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to fulfil every promise made in the poll manifesto, Naidu said they are going ahead with Swarna Andhra Vision 2047 with the sole objective of putting the State back on the development path.
Taking a dig at YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his party MLAs for their misbehavior during the Governor’s address, the Leader of the House said in his more than 41 years of experience, he has not seen such scenes in Assembly. “It is for the people to decide, and not your desire, whether you would become the Leader of Opposition or not. With just 11 MLAs, coming at 11 am, and spending just 11 minutes in the House, he created a ruckus seeking Opposition Leader status. This is a disgrace to the Assembly, which is like a temple where he people’s problems are solved,” Naidu said.
No stone will be left unturned to make AP a wealthy, healthy, happy State: CM
On the implementation of promises made to the people, Naidu said soon after assuming power, social security pensions were increased from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000, 8.08 lakh differently abled are being provided Rs 6,000 pension, and those undergoing dialysis are being given Rs 10,000, and those confined to bed are being provided Rs 15,000.
“Only Andhra Pradesh is the State in the country, which is spending Rs 33,000 crore per year on social security pensions for Rs 64 lakh people, and paying them promptly on the first of every month,” the Chief Minister highlighted.
Elaborating further, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said as promised Deepam scheme is being implemented, and beneficiaries are being reimbursed the amount within 48 hours of getting domestic gas cylinder. A total of one crore people have registered for the scheme, and 93 lakh of them are being given free gas cylinders as of now, spending Rs 2,684 crore.
As promised, 16,354 teacher posts through Mega DSC will be filled by the next academic year, Thalliki Vandanam scheme will be launched in May, and Rythu Bharosa (Rs 20,000 per farmer with Rs 6,000 paid by the Centre and the rest by the State) in June. Provision of Rs 20,000 financial assistance to fishermen during the ban on fishing will be implemented soon, he promised.
The Chief Minister gave a detailed presentation on the State economy, how it suffered due to ignorant decisions of the previous regime, and how their government strived to revive it back to normalcy.
“The growth rate in 2018-19 was 11.4%, and it fell to 5.25% in 2019-20. GSDP was Rs 8.74 lakh crore in 2018-19, and Rs 9.26 lakh crore in 2019-20. Had the growth rate been 11.14%, GSDP would have been Rs 9.71 lakh crore. That is within one year, the State had lost Rs 45,000 crore in GSDP due to the inept rule of the previous government. In 2023-24, the growth rate was 8.6%, and the projected growth rate for 2024-25 was 12.94% that is to say within one year after our government formed, the State benefited Rs 2,000 crore in GSDP,” he explained.
The Chief Minister elaborated on the 10 guiding principles of Swarna Andhra Vision 2047, which include Zero Poverty, Human Resource Development, Population Management, Employment and Skilling, Water Security, Farmers’ Welfare, Global Best Logistics, making Andhra Pradesh Green Energy Hub, Swachh Andhra and utilisation of technology like Artificial Intelligence, IoT and drones.
“In 1995, it was the IT revolution, and in 2025 it is AI revolution. Equal importance is given to irrigation and agriculture. On the infrastructure front, ports, airports, roads, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam metro rail projects will be developed. We will effectively use PM Surya Ghar Yojana to light up every household, and turn them into energy generators,” he said.
Naidu concluded his speech by stating that no stone will be left unturned to make Andhra Pradesh a wealthy, healthy and happy State.