The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Rajasekhara Reddy announces scheme for poor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 15, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Rajasekhara Reddy announces scheme for poor

Special Correspondent

`Rededication Day' meeting held on first anniversary

HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, has marked the completion of the first anniversary of his Government by announcing `Rajiv Abhyudaya Yojana', a programme for improving the living conditions of the weaker sections, particularly the Backward Classes.

At a `Rededication Day' meeting held at the Lal Bahadur Stadium on Saturday, Dr. Reddy declared that the new programme with an annual outlay of Rs.1, 300 crores was aimed at helping artisans of all hues in acquiring professional ware free of cost. The goal was to benefit 10 lakh families in the next four years.

Placing his performance in the "people's court" for social audit, he asked the gathering whether the previous Telugu Desam Government's work was any match to his. Listing out the major achievements of the Congress Government such as distribution of 1.5 lakh acres of land to the poor on a single day, allotment of Rs.500 crores for land development under the Indira Prabha programme and loans to DWCRA groups at 3 per cent interest, Dr. Reddy disclosed that more such programmes were on the anvil.

He challenged the Opposition to substantiate its criticism against free power supply and irrigation projects.

The Government was open to positive criticism but it would not be cowed down by the motivated campaign of the TDP and go back on its promises, the Chief Minister said. "Could they (TDP) show proof of corruption in irrigation tenders issue during the open debate? We have promised Indiramma Rajyam and we will fulfil it, come what may."

Turning his attention to the violence at Penukonda, he lashed out at the TDP president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, for promoting mindless violence. "Despite our repeated appeals to keep factional families out of elections, Mr. Naidu had gone ahead and committed himself to factionalism once again. Perhaps, we cannot expect him to do any better knowing his political opportunism. He would go to any extent to gain political mileage," he said. The AICC general secretary, Digvijay Singh, lauded Dr. Reddy's initiatives, and urged him to continue the good work in the next four years too.

A similar greeting from the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, was extended to him by Mr.Singh.

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