Welfare, development to be balanced equally

Hyderabad, April 13: Balancing welfare and development with equal measure and building of a new state with opportunities galore and welfare schemes that touch every section of the society besides providing clean and transparent governance are the focal points of the YSR Congress Party manifesto.  

“The manifesto is a compilation of the promises I have made during my mass contact programmes and the development programmes are aimed at retaining the local talent besides generating economic and employment opportunities by massive industrialization and bringing in radical changes in the education, health, farming, service and social sectors, “Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said while releasing the Manifesto at his Lotus Pond Camp office here on Sunday.

 Talking on the issue of development he said “We will ensure completion of the following in a time-bound manner. These include :  

·         State of the art, eco-friendly and world class capital city with all modern facilities, connectivity and social infrastructure.

·         About 20 faculty based super speciality hospitals will be established in the capital city for integration with super speciality hospitals at the district level.

·         Each district to have a University, a super speciality hospital with a medical college, an airport, agro processing zone with facilities for grading, processing       and packaging.

·         Establishment of rapid rail and road connectivity from the new capital of the New Capital City to Hyderabad.

·         NTPC-BHEL Mannavaram project,

·         Petrochemical complex by IOC/HPCL,

·         Integrated Steel plant in YSR district

·         Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial corridor

·         Anantapur-Krishnapatnam Industrial Corridor

·         Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR)

·         IT investment region (ITIR) one each in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema

·         Expansion of the existing Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati airports to international standards

·         Establishing a new railway zone

·         Metro Rail facility in Vishakhapatnam and Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali Metropolitan Urban Development Authority

·         Duggirajapatnam port project

·         Machilipatnam and VANPIC port projects

·         800 MW  Krishnapatnam thermal power plant stage-2,

·         800 MW  VTPS  stage-V,

·         Polavaram Hydro power plant of 960 MW,

·         1600 MW  Vodarevu Mega power plant stage-I

·          Polavaram and other irrigation projects like Uttarandhra, Sujala Sravathi, Handri-Niva, Galeru-Nagari, VeligondaRevamping of drainage systems in Krishna, Godavari and Penna River Basins

·         10 lakh weaker section houses per annum

·         Large number of Universities, specialized research institutions and National institutions 

In addition, the proposal to appoint ten Mahila police from each village will additionally create more than 2 lakh jobs. Similarly, by virtue of the fact that we propose to give with title to property, it will enable them to mortgage funds to raise capital to establish small businesses. 

It is clear that the residuary state is going to experience an unprecedented activity—a huge construction boom—a huge spending on infrastructure. This is going to create exrtraordinary potential for economic growth in the residuary state. This will create a huge multiplier effect. These projects require large quantities of cement and steel besides increasing the demand for work force, thus creating lakhs of jobs for our youth per annum. This will push up the demand for increasing the production of steel and cement—in turn it creates huge demand for mining of lime stone and iron ore—leading to huge push to transportation from mines to production units and from production units to consumer centers. There will thus be unprecedented boom for cement, steel, transportation, mining, construction---all of them in turn creating lakhs of jobs for our engineers, IT professionals and blue collared employees. 

There is thus a huge potential for job creation for engineers, IT professionals and technicians. We promise to create an absolutely hassle free and corruption free investment environment in the State.  

He said that he had the benefit of personally visiting thousands of poor houses during his mass contact programs. He personally saw their plight and sub human life a large number of them are leading. He was compelled by his conscious to do something to ameliorate their problems and improve their quality of life. For this, he announced a plethora of welfare measures by fortifying various welfare measures that were initiated by late Dr Reddy. These include:  

Ø YSR Ammavadi programme: In order to encourage education to all and to empower women, we propose to pay a sum of Rs.500/- per month per student in an academic year to the mother of the child in case of children studying from LKG to X Class.  In respect of students studying XI and XII class, a sum of Rs.700/- per month per student will be paid to the mother of the student.  In respect of students studying Graduation and Post graduation including technical education, a sum of Rs.1,000 per month per student will be paid to the mother of the student.

ØWe propose to strengthen the tuition fee reimbursement scheme to ensure that all the eligible students who are lacking financial support are covered under this scheme.

ØWe will establish English medium in all schools.

ØWe propose to write-off all the outstanding bank loans of women SHGs due as on 31-03-2014. We will continue the zero percent interest loans for SHGs.

ØWe propose to supply to all BPL families 150 units of power per month at Rs.100/-

ØWe propose to offer a subsidy of Rs.100 per domestic gas cylinder per family for 12 gas cylinders in a year.

ØWe will supply 30 kgs of rice per month per family at one rupee per Kg, thus fulfilling YSR’s promise made in 2009.

ØWe propose to increase the amount of monthly pension paid to old-aged, destitute women etc. from Rs.200/- to Rs. 700/- and similarly, the pension payable the physically challenged will be increased to Rs.1000/- per month.

ØThe eligibility for pensions will be reduced from 65 to 60 years except in special categories

ØWe propose to complete construction of 50 lakh weaker section houses in the next five years at the rate of 10 lakh houses per annum without the need for beneficiary to pay the premium. We propose to provide electricity, drinking water, toilets for all weaker section housing colonies. We further propose to build internal roads and sanitation for all these colonies. 

ØThe beneficiaries will get the title deeds at the time of handing over of the house and they can use this for raising loans from the Banks to start small businesses by mortgaging the said properties.

ØWe propose to give atleast one acre of land with access to irrigation to every landless poor.

ØAgriculture and allied activities will get big boost through higher budgets and by bestowing special focus

ØWe will set-up a price stabilization fund of Rs.3,000 crores to ensure that the farmers realize the MSP fixed by the Union Government.

ØThe state has been experiencing either drought or cyclone or floods every year. In order to reach out to affected farmers and others, we propose to set up a state calamity relief fund of Rs. 2000 crores.

ØWe will provide zero percent interest loans on all crop loans to farmers.  For encouraging farm mechanization, we subsidize farm equipment.

ØWe will establish three agriculture universities and agricultural degree colleges for every two districts and crop specific research institutions integrating them with the mobile agri clinics to ensure that technology is carried to the doorstep of the farmer.

ØWe propose to set up a brackish water aqua culture research institute together with the fisheries college.

ØWe propose to construct an additional 40 lakhs sq.ft. of godowns all over the State to address the problem of lack of storage space for agricultural products. Similarly, we will encourage cold chain and modern warehousing facilities so as to ensure the farmers realize a decent return for their produce.

ØWe also propose to provide facilities in every district head quarter for grading, processing and packaging facilities for value addition to the Agro products.

ØWe propose to supply 7 hours of quality power free of cost to agriculture sector during day time.

ØWe will ensure that there will be no power cuts by the year 2019.

ØWe propose to set up atleast one mobile agri-clinic per each mandal with soil testing facilities and in-house extension experts to advise the farmers on the spot.

ØWe propose to set up atleast one mobile veterinary clinic per mandal to cater to the animal health care and for genetic improvement of animals through promotion of artificial insemination.

ØWe propose that all Government services will be taken to the doorsteps of every citizen in every village and every municipal ward. To accomplish this, we will open an office in which ration cards, pension eligibility cards, housing eligibility cards and Aarogyasri cards will be issued through IRIS programme within 24 hrs from the time of application. Every such office will have all the facilities including Computer, Internet and Printer. 

ØRO, Reverse Osmosis plants will be installed in each village partly funded by MPLADs, MLA Constituency funds and partly by funding from the State Government and other private individuals so as to ensure supply of safe drinking water in every village at nominal prices. Preference will be given to local unemployed youth. This will help arresting “Water Bourne Diseases”.

ØWe are committed to promoting a super specialty hospital with a medical college attached in every district headquarters and connecting them to 20 speciality hospitals in the Capital City. We attach top priority for revamping the entire health care establishment beginning from the primary health centers, which are presently operating much below expectation.

ØWe propose to revive the 108 and 104 programmes by substantially increasing their numbers. In respect of Aarogyasri all the 133 schemes that have been discontinued will be brought back into the list in many more hospitals will be enlisted for this programme. In respect of cochlear implant meant for the deaf, we propose to reimburse the total amount which may go upto Rs. 6 lakhs. We propose to double the number of post graduation medical seats. We will ensure that each PHC will have adequate medicines, Doctors and medical staff to cater to the health needs of the rural areas. 

ØIn many cases, particularly in accident cases, the affected person cannot straight away start working as he/she may need one or two months rest thereby denying him/her the income. We propose to include in the Aarogyasri the payment of monthly income for the period during which he/she cannot attend office.

ØWe propose to close all the belt shops in the state and for ensuring that no illicit liquor is sold in villages, ten women police will be posted in all villages having a population more than 1000 population from the same village. In future liquor will be sold only at only one place in the assembly constituency headquarters and in three star and five star hotels.

ØWe will implement a BC sub plan with Rs. 12,000 crores with a sub grant of Rs.1200 crores of weavers.

ØThe mess charges payable will be linked to the cost of living index

ØThe amount payable as pension to weavers will be enhanced to Rs.1000 per month. 

ØWe will honour the commitment given by YSR for write off of loans of weaver community. They will also be provided with house cum weaving shed besides offering them Interest free loans upto Rs. One lakh. The power loom weavers will get power at rupees 1.50 per unit. Janata scheme will be introduced making it mandatory for all Government departments to procure their requirements from Handloom weavers.

ØIn respect of fishermen who become untraceable during their voyage, we promise to give an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakhs. This amount will be disbursed within six months from the date of disappearance. Out of this amount, Rs. 50,000 will be given within the first 15 days and the balance within one year..

ØSimilarly, in respect of toddy tappers who meet with a fatal accident by falling from the tree etc, an ex-gratia of Rs. 3 lakhs will be paid to the immediate family members within 30 days from the date of causality.

ØThe subsidy on diesel on fishing voyages will be increased to Rs. 10/litre in respect of registered fishing boats.

ØWe propose to establish in every Assembly constituency headquarters an old age home and an orphanage.

ØWe will take all necessary steps towards including Boya, Valmiki, Konda Kummari and Vaddera in the list of Scheduled Tribes. We propose to move an assembly resolution for this purpose.

ØWe will ensure that the funds allocated under the SCs and STs will not be diverted. Special education institutions and institutions of vocational training will be opened for SCs and STs. For fully exploiting the entrepreneurship among these communities, the incentives of offered by YSR will be continued.

ØOur special focus will be on increasing the share of manufacturing in the GDP to atleast 25% in the next 10 years. Special focus will be laid on women employment and entrepreneurship.

ØThe problems of the employees arising out of bifurcation of the State will be resolved at the quickest by constituting a separate department for the same. The PRC for Government Employees will be implemented. Aarogyasri scheme will be extended both to serving and retired employees. As a special case, the Government will pay salaries for the strike period by AP NGOs.

ØWe will sympathetically consider the problems faced by Contract employees and regularise their jobs on the basis of suitability and eligibility of the existing members.  

He also gave a comparative statement of growth indices of the nine year N Chandrababu Naidu term and five year YSR golden era which was followed by an anarchic rule by Congress.  

While GDP during and before TDP rule was 5.7 % it was 9.6 % during YSR period and fell to 6.86 % after his death. The agriculture development increased to 6.14 % in YSR term from 3.84 % during Naidu rule and again went down to 2.56 % after YSR death. The agriculture yield has gone up from 1.37 lakh tones by 2004 to 2.04 lakh tones by the end of 2009.  

Be it industrial growth, IT exports or growth in service sector, in all fields YSR term was the best when compared to the TDP rule or the Congress government after YSR death which was why it remained as a golden era in the history of the State.  

Training his guns at Chandrababu Naidu, he said,” “Naidu has been a habitual liar. He promises moon during elections but forgets people after the polls. He has been promising to waive agriculture loans to a tune of Rs 1.27 lakh cores which is impossible as it is not a state subject. He has been promising to provide one job per family unmindful of the fact that there are 3.5 crore houses in the state.  

Naidu was responsible in closing down 65 PSUs and selling them away to his close associates at dirt cheap prices which are now private limited companies and making profits. In the process, he has laid off nearly 26,000 employees.  

 We will provide transparent governance, send out bids, tenders and other issues involving public money to the CAG in advance and get their clearance instead of a post mortem, he said adding that his government will deliver goods and keep up all the promises.