Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu Distributes Tool Kits to 1 Lakh People Under Aadarana Scheme

Vijayawada, November 12: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday distributed tool kits to one lakh people belonging to the minority and backward sections of society as part of his Aadarana scheme.

The Chief Minister also announced that people falling under Below Poverty Line and backward and minority categories will be eligible to apply for interest-free and subsidized-interest loans. A total of 1, 00, 016 people will benifit from this.

A mega grounding mela was organized here, where farmers, tailors, goldsmiths, potters, fishermen, etc were given toolkits specific to their profession at 90 per cent subsidy, with the government incurring a total of Rs 115 crores for the same.

Apart from the mela, several government corporations distributed toolkits to people across the state. The beneficiaries of the scheme included people belonging to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Backward Classes, Muslim Minority, Christian Minority, Kapu and other sections of society.

The state government claims to have handed out over nine lakh toolkit units worth Rs four thousand crores within four months as part of the scheme, the first and second phases of which were launched in January and August respectively.

Addressing a gathering at the mega grounding mela organized here, the chief minister said, "Today we are launching a great program, to help two lakh people get self-employment. Those who practice hereditary community work will get tools useful in their work. Modern day tools are highly useful in working smartly."

"Tomorrow onwards, you all will get calls from RTG (Real Time Governance) inquiring about the quality, quantity and whether your requirement is fulfilled. We will assess all the feedback, and do the needful. We will rectify any lapses, as per your feedback," Naidu added.

The chief minister further stated that the Social Welfare, Backward Classes Welfare, Minority Welfare and Tribal Welfare ministers will be overlooking the scheme. He lauded the ability of Kidari Sravan Kumar, the newly inducted Tribal Welfare and Primary Health minister, to handle the portfolio efficiently.

Sravan Kumar, whose father, former MLA Kidari Sarveswara Rao, was in September killed by Maoists, is one of the two newly appointed cabinet ministers in the state government, along with N. M. D. Farooq, who was given the minority welfare and health portfolios.

Naidu stated that his aim was to distribute toolkits to at least eight lakh people, which will be done in four phases. "Our commitment for minorities is well known. Yesterday we gave posts to three Muslims. One ministry, one Council Chairman, and government whip to the other. We will do justice to the poor in the Open Category also. Through the Brahmin Corporation, we are extending help to poor Brahmins. Days of physical strain are over. Smart work prevails. We can sit at our own house, and work. Our aim is to see every poor family gets a monthly income of at least Rs 10, 000," Naidu said.

The chief minister then launched an assault at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central Government, saying, "Present Central Government is creating many hurdles, not at all cooperating. Not fulfilling the promises made in the reorganization act. They did not even help the victims of Titli cyclone. If BJP comes to power again, we will face many more problems. That's why I am working at national level to defeat the BJP."