Naidu seeks votes on development plank

By Our Staff Reporter

NANDIGAM (Srikakulam dt), JULY 4. The Chief Minister and TDP president, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, sought votes for his party for the development achieved and lambasted the Congress for indulging in politicking.

Addressing a public meeting, the first in north Andhra for the local bodies' election here today, he said only the TDP had the right to seek votes since it was working for development of the State in a disciplined and dedicated manner.

Mr. Naidu's speech centred around the development activities at the State level and those specific to the district. A drizzle continued all through the meeting but a patient crowd, including a sizeable number of women, listened to the Chief Minister's speech responding whenever he wanted them to clap.

Attacking the Congress, he said that it was trying to mislead people with impractical promises and lies. Its offer of free power did not cut ice with the electorate in the Assembly polls. The credibility of Congress was low and as a result that party had been considerably weakened and in many districts its presence was nominal being in no position to contest the elections. It had no hope of coming to power in the foreseeable future, hence it was raking up issues like separate Telangana and Rayalaseema, not for the sake of people but only to embarrass the TDP. "There is no method in the way it (the Congress) is working. They are always indulging in politics," Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said.

The Chief Minister said the TDP had always worked for poverty alleviation and removal of backwardness. It had formulated novel schemes for development. Detailing his Government's successes and the State's all-round progress, he said the thrust on DWCRA had led to 53 lakh SHGs having a revolving fund of Rs. 1,050 crores. Their micro credit needs had been met and they were producing 350 items. It would not be surprising if the savings reached Rs. 5,000 crores in the next decade.

As many as 30 lakh women had been made literate in 90 days in the Akshara Sankranti programme. Because of the awareness among women, the State stood in the forefront in family planning. He attributed the success of various programmes to the increased awareness among women. Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said 15 lakh LPG connections had been given and another 15 lakh would be given. Besides, 18 lakh low-cost sanitation units would be constructed at a cost of about Rs. 400 crores.

Mr. Chandrababu Naidu said schemes like Adarana, Mundadugu, and Chaitanyam covered various sections of people and residential schools met education needs. In the Janmabhoomi programme also, Rs. 300 crores was spent on development programmes extending help to various sections. On the efforts of his Government to improve the lot of people in Srikakulam district, he said it had been included in the Poverty Initiative Project "Velugu". In the next three to four years, Rs. 100 crores would be spent on it.

An additional ayacut of 12,000 acres had been created under the Vamsadhara left main canal and 20,000 acres under the right main canal. The extension of RMC would need Rs. 110 crores and it would be given a thought. Even the inter-State dispute on Vamsadhara Stage II had received attention and talks were held between NTR and Biju Patnaik, he recalled.

For the Madduvalasa project, Rs. 55 crores had been spent so far. Referring to parts of the district experiencing drought frequently, he said a programme for full utilisation of available water would be worked out. He said accountability would be fixed at gram sabhas and district-level tribunals would be formed to ensure good work.

The TDP president earlier administered the party oath to all the contestants. The district TDP president and MLA, Mr. G. Appala Suryanarayana, presided. The Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. T. Sitaram, the TDPP leader, Mr. K. Yerran Naidu, MP, Mr. K. Kala Venkata Rao, and Tekkali MLA, Dr. K. Revatipati, spoke.

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