TDP promises to double the benefits

Amaravati: TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu exuded confidence that his mission 150 plus Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats would be achieved. Talking to media after releasing the party manifesto, Naidu said that in the days to come the benefits which various sections are now getting would be doubled.

He said all the assurances given in the AP Reorganisation Act, including special category status would be achieved. The state was passing through a very crucial period as Modi, KCR and Jagan have jointly waged a war against the self-respect of the people of Andhra Pradesh with an ulterior motive to destroy Andhra.

But people are determined to show them their place. Once elections here are over, Naidu said, he would go around the country and see that Modi will not return to power. The manifesto, he said, lays special emphasis on interlinking of five major rivers and completing 62 prioritised irrigation projects, creating best infrastructure and making Amaravati as one among the best five cities in the world.

Construction of roads across coastal line, encouraging 10 lakh electricity vehicles, establishing 175 MSME parks at all Assembly constituencies to make AP as industrial hub are some of the important highlights of the manifesto.

Naidu assured a host of welfare schemes for farmers, including; continuation of Annadata Sukhibhava scheme for next five years and a total of Rs 75,000 to be given to each farmer.

The scheme will also be extended to tenant farmers. He promised 12 hours free electricity and borewells to the farmers, interest free loans and creation of market stabilisation fund with Rs 5,000 crore.

Horticulture will be developed in one crore acres. Aqua hubs will be created and aqua farmers will be provided power subsidy. The fishermen will get cold storage facilities, jetties would be constructed, and they will be paid Rs 10,000 holiday allowance during two-month fishing holiday period.

The farmers will get 75 per cent subsidy on purchase of fodder. Food parks, processing units will be constructed to generate 2 lakh employment and a cold chain corporation will be created.

For women, the manifesto said Pasupu Kunkuma scheme will continue for next five years and the age limit for financial assistance for self-help groups will be removed. Rs 1 lakh financial assistance will be provided to them.

Free smart mobile phones will be given. Interest-free loans ceiling will be enhanced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for SHGs. TDP will also fight for ensuring 33 per cent reservations to women in law-making houses, the manifesto said.

Oldage pensions will be enhanced from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 and age eligibility limit will be brought down to 60 from 65 years. Chandranna Pellikanuka will be enhanced to Rs 1 lakh from Rs 50,000.

Anna Canteens to be established at villages having more than 20,000 population. Two gas cylinders will be provided to poor free of cost and proposal for one cylinder for every festival will also be examined.

The manifesto further said that it will extend SC- ST Sub Plan for another ten years. The TDP government will construct 100 residential schools for SCs, 50 for STs and enhance Videsi Vidhya scholarship to Rs 25 lakh. Setting up of a Tribal Bank, separate ST Commission.

125 ft Ambedkar statue at Amaravati with Rs 100 crore in about 20 acres, separate corporations to be constituted for various sub-castes have also been promised.

For BCs, a Development Bank will be established with Rs 10,000 corpus fund and 200 residential schools will be constructed.

Weavers will be provided Rs 10,000 per family as allowance on purchase of certain raw material. The Centre of Excellence at Mangalagiri for branding and designing would be set up. Five per cent Kapu reservation will continue and Rs 5,000 crore welfare fund will be provided.

As part of political empowerment, Brahmins and Kapu's will be given MLC posts. Imams and allowance will be enhanced to Rs 10,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively. Subsidy on cars and autos for minorities.

Islamic banking system to be initiated. Christian bhavans will be constructed in district headquarters. Jerusalem budget to be increased. Free houses will be provided to pastors, it said.