Andhra Pradesh Magazine English June 2016 | Page 8

2nd Anniversary

Development is a long and
harsh process, and its
fruits take time to reach
the poor and the underprivileged. A welfare
approach, thus, has
become part and parcel of
the CM's philosophy to
reach out to the needy. As
a result, Andhra Pradesh
has come up with one of
the most comprehensive
welfare schemes in the
country, costing the
exchequer huge money.

8

About Rs 6 lakh crore worth proposals for investment during the CII
Partnership Summit and the launch of the assembly lines of a host of bigticket companies like Foxconn, Xiaomi , Mondelez and Pepsi became
possible due to a series of well-coordinated reforms in the administration.
Andhra Pradesh ranking a close second among states as the most
business friendly state in the World Bank rankings was no fluke either.
From ports to airports, from tourism to smart cities, from farm sector to
women welfare the Chief Minister did not leave anything uncovered from
his attention during these two years. Recent agricultural downturn is
especially an issue of utmost concern for him. In an effort to make
agriculture profitable, the CM came up with a slew of initiatives including
energy efficient pump sets and encouragement to organic farming. In fact,
Andhra Pradesh is ahead of many other States in investments in irrigation
sector, according to a study conducted by the Associated Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).
The Chief Minister is passionate about employment generation, skill
development and a knowledge-based smart society. The establishment
of more than a dozen premier central institutes including IIM,
Visakhapatnam and IISER, Tirupati, during the last two years is a
fulfillment of a part of the dream. A clutch of reforms including passing
law for permitting foreign universities and the many skill development
initiatives unveiled in the education sector are already yielding results,
as the State emerged as number one in employability, according to the
India Skills Report 2016.
Urban infrastructure has received major focus in these last two years. The
Government of Andhra Pradesh inked an MoU with the Delhi Metro Rail
Corporation (DMRC), entrusting Visakhapatnam and Vijaywada Metro
Rail Project to them. The DPRs for both Visakhapatnam Metro Rail and
Vijayawada Metro Rail are ready. The CM has been investing so much in
Swachch Bharath campaign that Andhra Pradesh could become the first
state in the country to make all its urban areas 'Open Defecation Free' by
October 2, marking two years of the launch of Swachh Bharat Mission.

***

Development is a long and harsh process, and its fruits take time to reach

the poor and the underprivileged. A welfare approach, thus, has become
part and parcel of the CM's philosophy to reach out to the needy. As a result, Andhra Pradesh has come up with one of the most
comprehensive welfare schemes in the country, costing the exchequer huge
money.
Debt redemption was a promise made by the ruling party; hence despite
the tight budget constraints, as much as Rs 19,669 crore was released to
help 46.82 lakh farmers come out of debt. Likewise, pensions of all
varieties - old age, physically challenged and widows - have been
increased five-fold, with the government disbursing nearly Rs 6,000 crore
a year, probably the highest in the country.
Pro-active policies in the health sector have resulted in institutional
deliveries increasing from 94.9 percent in 2012-13 to 98.3 in 2015-16

ANDHRAPRADESHMAGAZINE.ORG

JUNE 2016