The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Chief Minister deplores neglect of rural economy

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Sunday, Apr 10, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Chief Minister deplores neglect of rural economy

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, APRIL 9. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has urged people to join hands with the Government in blazing a new path towards reaching the goal of `Harithaandhrapradesh' in a short span.

Addressing a gathering during the official Ugadi celebrations at Ravindra Bharathi here today, Dr. Reddy lamented the neglect of the rural economy by the previous regime and rededicated his Government to the welfare of farmers. Not a single drop of water should go waste and all efforts would be made to ensure a good harvest, he said.

He said he had first-hand knowledge of people's travails because he had seen their miseries from close quarters during his marathon `padayatra,' which he launched on this day in 2003. While in the opposition, his party had promised a rosy life to them and he would keep his word, he said.

Referring to the highest allocation in the annual plan outlay by the Planning Commission this year to the State Government (Rs. 15,650 crores), he said the Government was planning to increase the allocation to irrigation sector every year.

Regretting the neglect of Telugu, he directed the Labour Department to enforce Telugu signboard rule under the Shops and Establishment Act.

A highlight of the Ugadi celebrations was the rendition of the almanac by the reputed Malladi Chandrasekhara Sastry.

Hurdles

Interspersing the traditional with the modern, the scholar predictably did not disappoint the rulers. "Rains will be there, but they will not be copious. The Endowments Department needed to arrange `Sahasra Ghatabhishekam' and `Varuna Japam' at every Sivalayam for good rains from Jyestha masam. Cloud-seeding alone will not help," he said.

Also it should arrange for rendition of `Virataparvam' of Mahabharatha.

As for crops, `Parthiva' was again not so favourable but the Government should not encourage commercial crops.

No alarm here too as `Balarama' was the chief herdsman and that indicated that milk and dairy products would be aplenty.

The Government might face several hurdles from `within and from others' in implementing its programme but as `Shani' was the ruling planet of the year, a strong will would see it through. Help from the Centre would come in handy for the Chief Minister, he added.

In tune with the political happenings of the recent past, Chandrasekhara Sastry predicted that there would be discussion and legal hurdles to every action of the Government.

The democratic debate process would strengthen the hands of the Government in the end, he added.

The Minister for Tourism, J. Geeta Reddy, proposed a vote of thanks. The Speaker, K.R. Suresh Reddy, was present.

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