CM promises iPads, Tablets to schoolchildren

Vinukonda(Guntur district): Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday promised to ensure that the schoolchildren are relieved of burden of carrying bulky bags.

During an interaction with the students at zilla parishad high school grounds at Vinukonda as part of Janmabhoomi programme, Naidu said “the day is not far off when every schoolchild will be given an i Pad or a Tablet. This will relieve the schoolchildren from the burden of carrying bulky bags,” he said. The Tables, he said, would bring knowledge to the children instantly. The children can teach their teachers by gaining knowledge with the help the gadgets. He said the government would soon provide tablets to all schoolchildren.

The government, he said, would provide optical fibre connectivity to every household. It was the policy of the government to ensure that every house was connected with internet. The internet and the computers would make life comfortable, he said.

The Chief Minister called the students onto the dias and made them speak. Soujanya, a high school student, urged the Chief Minister to bring about changes in education system. Another 9th class student Ganga Bhavani said she is the daughter oa shepherd and used to help her father. When she was admitted in Gurukula School, her whole concept of education and life changed. She expressed her desire to become IPS officer.

The Chief Minister described the children as "Aggi Pidugulu" and stated that these children could be a potential threat to the present brand of political leaders as they were well-informed and had clarity on all issues confronting the society. He was impressed by another girl Poornima that she would like to become a politician.

Earlier the Chief Minister arrived at the airstrip one hour behind the schedule on the Loyola School grounds.

He was received by District Collector Kantilal Dande and Minister for Agriculture P Pulla Rao and Narasaraopet MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao. He participated in tree plantation programme and exhorted schoolchildren to be involved in tree plantation programme. Naidu said that the mission was aimed at planting 5 crore plants in the state at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

Naidu takes farmers to task
Ongole: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday took the groundnut farmers to task for their sin of representing to him of their grievance. Naidu was angry at the farmers because they kept the groundnut produce with themselves for last three years, expecting higher price.

The incident took place at Parchuru in Prakasam district during the Chief Minister’s visit to participate in “Polam Pilustondi” programme.

The groundnut farmers approached Naidu and handed a memorandum, appealing him to ensure that the groundnut stock, accumulated for last three years, are bought by the government.

The appeal by the farmers appeared to have infuriated the Chief Minister. “Is it not foolish to stockpile the produce for last three years? You wanted higher price. When the price still remains low, you have approached and asked me to buy it. You should have sold the produce even if it fetched Rs 10 lower,” Naidu reeled off his ire on the farmers.

He, however, seemed to have tried to correct himself while speaking at a public meeting. He announced that the government would buy groundnut at the rate of Rs 3,100 a quintal. This promoted farmers to retort that they were not willing to part with the produce at this low price. The farmers refused to sell the produce even the price was as high as Rs 3,200