CM launches anti-poverty 'Velugu' project

By Dasu Kesava Rao

UTNOOR (ADILABAD dt.), JUNE 16. The Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, has a moved a step closer to keeping a date with two promises he made to the people -- a mission approach to banish poverty and a fair deal to the people of this richly- endowed but economically backward district.

On Friday, Mr. Naidu launched a Rs 585-crore World Bank funded- initiative to fight poverty and showered a number of boons -- sanction of professional colleges, roads and irrigation schemes -- for the benefit of this predominantly tribal area.

Tens of thousands of Gond, Lambada, Kolam, Naikpod tribals and others thronged the Komaram Bheemu ITDA complex, named after the legendary Gond chieftain who led a revolt against the Nizam's Government in the 40s, to join the Chief Minister, half a dozen minsters, officials and NGO representatives at the launch of the poverty eradication mission.

Part of the TDP's election manifesto of bringing 4 million people above the poverty line, the AP District Poverty Initiatives Project (APDPIP) envisages bringing 6.20 lakh BPL families in 180 mandals spread over six identified `poorest' districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Adilabad, Mahbubnagar, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts in five years. A good lot of the beneficiaries are women belonging to the Scheduled Tribe or Scheduled Caste focussing on areas with a high incidence of child labour and school dropouts.

IDA, the World Bank associate, is to extend soft credit to a tune of Rs 481 crores, the State Government will chip in with Rs 72 crores and the participating communities Rs 31 crores.

The project is to be managed at the State-level by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) which is headed by the Chief Minister. Mr. B. N. Yugandhar, a retired IAS officer known for pioneering employment-generation initiatives, is the vice- chairman. The scheme will go hand in hand with a similar programme with DFID funding of Rs 740 cr for helping urban poor and empowering women. Mr. Yugandhar noted that apart from the best brains to conceive the project, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu has drafted no fewer than 8 IAS officers for the project.

Mr. Naidu, on his 24th visit to the district, said Adilabad was dear to his heart and he would not rest until he developed it. The district, which had been neglected for years, found a place under the sun only during the TDP regime. Nearly 40,000 hecatres were additionally brought under the plough in the last 5 years. He would ensure that another 40,000 ha would be added in the next five years.

He said an engineering college would come up in Utnoor and the district would also get a dental and a medical college. Messrs P. Bhoomanna, Minister for Handlooms, presided, M. Manikumari, Minister for Tribal Welfare, K. Pushpaleela, Minister for Social Welfare, R. Saraswati, Minister for Woman and Child Welfare, S.Venugopalachary, MP, district MLAs, BN Yugandhar, Ashok Sethi, World Bank team leader, and others were present.

Our Nizamabad Staff Reporter writes:

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said that proposals were being prepared to extend the poverty-eradication programme to five more districts in Telangana under the second phase. Addressing a press conference after launching the Velugu project, Mr Naidu said the State Government is already in the process of extending the project to Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Medak in the second phase. "Work on these lines is already on and it is a matter of time, when the project would be grounded", he added.

Stating that Adilabad district had always been neglected by successive Governments, Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said the poverty eradication programme was designed in such a way that the DWCRA, SHGs, and CMEY groups would be greatly benefitted. Exhorting the people of the district to take up horticulture and agriculture in a big way, he said climate here was conducive. He said even the rainfall which stood at 1100 mm annually, would be useful.

Explaining in detail the plans for improving the education standards and skill development, he announced the sanction of a technology-cum-training centre at Utnoor besides an engineering college in this tribal-dominated revenue division. Already four engineering colleges, a dental and medical colleges had been sanctioned for the district, he said adding that priority would also be given to polytechnics and junior colleges, in the area.

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