Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said his goal is to create a society free from poverty. To achieve this, he launched the P4 initiative, according to an official statement.
Naidu wished that the Sri Vishwavasu Nama Samvatsara Ugadi festival would bring hope and happiness. The state government held Ugadi celebrations at Tummalapalli Kalakshetram in Vijayawada, where he took part.
The statement said Naidu offered special prayers and attended the Panchanga Sravanam (astrological predictions for the year) led by Padma Shri awardee Madugula Nagaphani Sharma. He also released almanacs from TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams), the Agriculture Department, and the Horticulture Department. In addition, he unveiled the State Cultural Department’s annual events calendar.
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Naidu stressed the importance of preserving Indian culture and traditions. Forgetting history means losing identity, he said. Ugadi reminds people of Pachadi (a traditional dish) and Panchanga Sravanam, the statement added.
He recalled that, in his childhood, villagers would gather to listen to the Panchanga recitation. To promote Telugu language and culture, his previous government set up Avadhana Kendram (Literary Centre) near Hitech City, Hyderabad, as well as Annamayya Kshetram (Cultural Centre) and Shilpakala Vedika (Art & Cultural Auditorium). The state government now holds Ugadi celebrations at Delhi’s Andhra Bhavan and Chennai’s Potti Sriramulu Memorial Trust.
Naidu said the world is changing rapidly, and innovation is the key to progress. People must work smart, not just hard.
He expressed pride in the success of Telugu people. He claimed that, in just 25 years, their incomes had doubled compared to Americans.
Naidu said he shares the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor-politician Pawan Kalyan. He wants to strengthen both Andhra Pradesh and India. He hopes India will become a global leader, with Telugu people playing a major role.
He criticised the previous government, saying Andhra Pradesh had suffered over the past five years. He claimed the problems created were the worst he had seen in his political career. He promised his government would fix them step by step. This year, he introduced a ₹3.22 lakh crore budget to boost the economy and improve living standards. His government aims to ensure better incomes, healthcare, and happiness for all.
Naidu recalled how, during his earlier tenure, he developed Hitech City and promoted IT. This created thousands of jobs and helped increase mobile phone use, despite initial scepticism. Now, he is focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Valley. He warned that while mobile phones improve lives, misuse can cause problems.
Naidu stressed that wealth should not be concentrated among a few. A fair society is possible only if everyone has access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. He launched the Margadarshi – Bangaru Kutumbam Zero Poverty (P4) initiative on Ugadi. His vision is that the wealthy should help the poor. He urged the top 10 per cent of society to support the bottom 20%. He called on Telugu people to become global role models for philanthropy.
In the past nine months, the NDA government has made decisions using a ‘People First’ approach. While focusing on welfare and development, it is also attracting investments. Naidu introduced WhatsApp Governance, allowing people to access services without visiting government offices.
He praised Nagaphani Sharma, saying he had known him for 30 years and admired his dedication. He called Sharma’s Padma Shri award a proud moment for Telugu people.
During the Ugadi celebrations, Naidu honoured individuals for their contributions to various fields. He presented Kala Ratna awards to 86 people and Ugadi awards to 116 recipients.
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