YSR declares 2009 as welfare year

Satisfied with the initial results of the boost given to development and employment generation last year, the State government has decided to shift the emphasis now to welfare and declared 2009 as welfare year to rectify deficiencies in this sector.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy greeted people of the State on the New Year with the promise of expending more time and energy this year towards achieving this goal. The government, he said, would continue to be pro-active to retain the tempo of the development and consolidate the gains made on the law & order front, especially in containing factional and naxalite violence. Dr. Reddy announced that the massive pension scheme, planned to benefit one crore old women of the self-help groups aged 60 years, with a monthly pension of Rs. 500, would be finalised by this month-end and implemented from April 1. He sought suggestions from women samakhyas as the modalities for the scheme were being worked out by the LIC, its implementing agency.

The Chief Minister highlighted the 17 irrigation projects completed so far as the hallmark of the development achieved. Work was in full swing on two to three projects in each district. Jalayagnam had given a clear message that “only Congress, and none else, has the courage to implement big irrigation projects. Anybody else would have simply been scared at talking about these projects,” Dr. Reddy said, citing the Rs. 38,500 crore Pranahita-Chevella project.

The results of the employment mission taken up for 2008 were such that 8 lakh job opportunities were offered to the youth as against a 10-lakh target through a comprehensive training programme and job melas. In view of the government’s good track record in containing left wing extremism, other States had begun to emulate Andhra Pradesh.

Naxal problem

He said though the terrorist problem had come to the State from other areas, it was “tackled well”.

Referring to other crimes, including abuse of women, he said a strong message had been sent recently on how strict the government could be in enforcing law & order.