Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

`Long march' to progress

By Our Staff Reporter

TANUKU SEPT. 13. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has claimed to be the longest served CM in the State after Independence. Comparing himself with his mentor, N.T. Rama Rao and Kasu Brahmananda Reddy of the Congress, Mr. Naidu asserted that he had been in the saddle successfully since he took over from NTR in August 1995.

He thanked people for their unstinted support which ensured his continuance in power. After taking part of a string of developmental programmes at Bhimavaram, Undrajavaram and this town on Friday, Mr. Naidu was addressing a gathering of DWCRA women. He claimed that he had heralded a silent revolution among women by organising over 56 lakh women into self-help groups.

Listing several achievements, he recalled that the number of engineering colleges had gone up to 217 from 32. Mr. Naidu reiterated his Government's priorities of poverty eradication, elimination of child labour and women empowerment. Without naming the Congress, Mr. Naidu hit out at the principal Opposition party for its alleged misinformation campaign on the Food-for-Work programme. However, he asserted that his Government would brook no irregularities in implementing the scheme.

He said he would not allow the objective of the scheme to provide succour to the poor in drought-hit areas to be defeated. He warned that he would not spare anybody if he found anybody guilty of misusing the scheme. In an attempt to prevent irregularities in the scheme, he said the Government was contemplating constituting village-level works committees involving DWCRA women, sarpanches, ward members and MPTCs.

The Chief Minister claimed that the power situation had improved in the State. He promised not to hike power charges provided people ensured prevention of power pilferage. Despite a drop in hydel power generation due to the prolonged dry spell, the Government had ensured regular and quality power supplies saving minor complaints here and there.

The Ministers, K. Vidyadara Rao, Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu and K. Subbarayaudu accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit.

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