Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday expressed a firm opinion that nation’s development is possible only with evolution of the rural areas and promised to take all gram panchayats in the state towards rapid progress.
Addressing a gram sabha at Vanapalli of Kothapeta Assembly segment, the chief minister said that the previous government has almost treated the sarpanches as ceremonial idols.
“I am of a firm belief that as much importance an MLA is gets for an Assembly segment, similarly sarpanch is equally important for village development,” Naidu said.
Promising to provide all basic amenities for every region, every village and all the doorsteps across the state, Naidu told the gathering that soon after the Telugu Desam Party-led National Democratic Alliance Government assumed charge funds amounting to ₹998 crore was released for the panchayats.
“We are soon going to release another ₹1,100 crore for the village panchayats,” he announced.
Naidu also assured the people that the working days under Employment Guarantee will be increased from ₹15 to 21.5 crore.
In an attempt to advise people to stay away from all those who do harm to society, Naidu in an oblique reference to the former chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said the status of the Leader of Opposition is something that is given by the people after electing a leader but not under threats.
He termed the holding of 13,326 gram sabhas on a single day as historic and congratulated the Deputy Chief Minister, Pawan Kalyan, on making and undertaking this proposal.
Regretting that the previous government totally neglected and debilitated panchayats in the state, the chief minister said not even a single road was laid in any village in the state.
The chief minister made it clear that under Article 243A, the grama sabha’s consent is required for any kind of functioning of a sarpanch and asked whether the previous government had conducted even a single gram sabha in any part of the state in five years.
People were mobilised under threats by the previous government and even a common man was not allowed to come out of the house.
Stating that skill census is being taken up since the educated youth need skill progress for getting employment, the chief minister felt that the youth will get almost double revenue if they have required skills.
"We will certainly improve the skill of the youth,” he added.
Naidu announced that a new sand policy will be brought in on September 11 and said that sand will be directly delivered home if registered with the secretariat.
Necessary funds will be released for all the local issues of Vanapalli, Naidu assured.
Although I have earlier called for observing family planning, now I am making an appeal to the people to increase the population by producing more children,” Naidu said.
Reiterating that the Telugus should reach the highest position in the world, the Chief Minister said that every official should properly implement what the local public representatives want.
“Ultimately we all should work for the progress of the people,” Naidu added.
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