Chandrababu Promises Growth for Konaseema, Highlights Governance Milestones

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu emphasized that the Andhra Pradesh government has delivered remarkable welfare benefits within just 11 months of coming to power. Speaking during the "Service to the Poor" program in Cheyyeru village of Mummidivaram constituency in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, he stated that the government is successfully implementing the promised "Super Six" schemes.

He announced that Andhra Pradesh is allocating ₹34,000 crore annually for pensions—an amount not matched by any other Indian state. “With the blessings of the Almighty, we aim to further increase this amount,” said Nara Chandrababu Naidu. He reiterated the government’s commitment to transparent and corruption-free governance.

During the event, the Chief Minister personally distributed pensions to two women, Ratnamma and Mariyamma, who are employed under the employment guarantee scheme. Addressing the public gathering, he said the government prioritizes the welfare of the poor and ensures timely pension distribution to 6.4 million beneficiaries every month. Since June 1 falls on a Sunday, pensions were distributed in advance on Saturday for the beneficiaries' convenience.

Nara Chandrababu Naidu recalled that during the previous administration, pension distribution was disorganized and limited to ₹200. He noted that his government increased the pension to ₹2,000 and later to ₹4,000, as per the election promise. “While ₹30,000 is earned through 100 days of labor annually, we provide ₹48,000 through pensions,” he said. Special pensions of ₹10,000 and ₹15,000 are being provided to dialysis patients and bedridden individuals, respectively, he added.

He stated that the widow pension scheme is being firmly implemented. While the previous government delayed such support, his administration granted ₹4,000 pensions to 71,380 newly eligible widows. In total, ₹111.41 crore was disbursed to 132,151 beneficiaries, including those receiving two- and three-month backdated pensions.

Citing examples, he said states like Maharashtra and Telangana provide only ₹1,000 and ₹2,500 as pensions, respectively, while Andhra Pradesh offers more, despite being economically less affluent. “I’ve kept my word to stand by every household like an elder son,” he asserted.

Nara Chandrababu Naidu announced the statewide resumption of ration distribution through shops starting June 1. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities will receive doorstep delivery, while those opting out will receive cash under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. He alleged that previous door delivery schemes were riddled with irregularities and that ration rice was diverted to Kakinada port for black market trade.

As part of strengthening the education system, he assured that 16,347 teacher positions will be filled via DSC recruitment in June, with appointment letters to follow. Under the “Talli Ki Vandanam” scheme, mothers will receive ₹15,000 per child studying at home. The “Annadata” scheme will provide ₹20,000 annually to eligible farmers, and the controversial GO 217, which adversely affected the fishing community, has been revoked. He announced financial support of ₹20,000 to fishermen and the upcoming expansion of ₹5 Anna Canteens in every constituency.

The Chief Minister also highlighted recent policy reversals, including the scrapping of the Land Titling Act and the issuance of GST reimbursement orders on handloom products. He stated that 500 units of free electricity will be given to power looms and 200 units to handlooms. A special corporation has been established for goldsmiths, and toddy tappers now have a 10% reservation in liquor shops. “Social justice has been ensured through SC classification,” he said.

He added that Brahmins and Nai Brahmins have been appointed to temple boards and that unemployed youth studying Vedic education receive ₹3,000 per month under the "Yuvagalam" scheme. Under the "Deepam" scheme, eligible women will receive three free LPG cylinders annually, with the cost reimbursed every four months.

Criticizing the previous administration, Nara Chandrababu Naidu accused them of indulging in scams under the guise of welfare schemes and of trying to discredit the current government. He warned that lawbreakers would be dealt with strictly. Referring indirectly to the recent death of a pastor, he accused some individuals of spreading misinformation by portraying a natural death as murder.

He alleged that even the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam was mismanaged during the previous regime. Nara Chandrababu Naidu also referenced past communal tensions in Hyderabad and said that under TDP, harmony was restored. “Factionalism, once prevalent in Rayalaseema, has now vanished,” he stated. He criticized the politicization of statues of national figures like B.R. Ambedkar, N.T. Rama Rao, and Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga.

He claimed that previous governments neglected road infrastructure, leaving potholes throughout the state. His government has repaired 20,000 kilometers of roads, spending ₹1,200 crore. He added that while a garbage tax was imposed earlier without proper waste management, his government has revoked the tax and plans to clear 8.3 million metric tonnes of waste by October.

Nara Chandrababu Naidu expressed concern that per capita income in Konaseema has declined, despite the region once being a prosperous area. He said Anantapur district had now surpassed it in development. He proposed intercropping in coconut plantations and promised two buffaloes per poor family to support self-reliance in Konaseema.

He fondly remembered his friend and late Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi, emphasizing TDP's inclusive representation across castes and communities. He recalled that during the 1996 floods, he shifted the secretariat to Rajahmundry to directly oversee relief efforts.

On the public platform, the Chief Minister responded to various grievances. He sanctioned a pension to Polishetty Durgaprasad, who lost a leg due to diabetes, and promised ₹1.5 lakh financial assistance and a job for his B.Tech graduate daughter, Satya Anita. A job opportunity was also assured to B.Sc. Computers graduate Sai Lakshmi Chandra.

He announced that 500,000 individuals in the state currently work from home and pledged to further promote this model. He promised a house and pension to Madiki Lakshmi, who lost her husband to cancer and is raising three daughters. Margadarsi representative Nagendra Rao offered to support her family’s education and medical expenses.

Margadarsi representative Ramaraju also pledged financial support to Satyavati’s family, who were struggling without a house, and announced he would adopt five more families.

For Mummidivaram constituency, Nara Chandrababu Naidu promised several development projects including construction of the Pallankurru-Moolapadu bridge, the Mummidivaram-Katreinikona R&B road, and the Gogulanka bridge. He sanctioned modernization funds for the Kundaleswaram flood bank, assured completion of CC roads and drainage works in Cheyyeru village, and announced a BC residential school and college for girls. He also declared an ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh each for families of students who recently drowned in the Godavari River.

He emphasized the government's commitment to uplifting backward communities and noted the allocation of ₹47,456 crore in the budget for BC welfare. He said ₹1,670 crore was released immediately for paddy procurement upon assuming office, with payments made to farmers’ accounts within 48 hours. He added that the previous government owed ₹990 crore to panchayats, which his administration cleared. With Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s initiative, work in all panchayats began in a single day, launching 30,000 projects under the ₹4,500 crore “Palle Panduga” program.