AP stands first in country

Amaravati: The performance of the AP government has been improved tremendously in implementing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in the last four years, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister N Lokesh said.

The state secured first rank in just two parameters in 2014-15 in the country. Now, the state emerged as number one in altogether 8 parameters and number two in 5 parameters, informed N Lokesh speaking to The Hans India.

Expressing confidence on the efficiency of the department, Lokesh said that the state government will spend another Rs 4,000 crore under the programme in next four months, to complete the target of spending Rs 10,000 crore for this financial year, as directed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

The Panchayat Raj department ensured roadside plantation for more than 4,000 kms in the state under Avenue creation component, till Saturday, for this financial year and became number one in the country, stated Additional Commissioner G Balasubrahmanyamof MGNREGS.

By digging more than 94,251 Farm Ponds in the state, the AP became number one in this parameter. Minister informed that these farm ponds have been improving the ground water table across the state and also helping farmers in providing water to their agriculture fields. Under the Material component, it spent Rs 2453 crore to retain the first place in the country.

As part of the Individual House Hold Latrines component, the state government encouraged nearly 39,000 individuals to construct toilets. This is the highest number of individual toilets constructed in any state and thus AP became number one in the country, Balasubrahmanyam observed.
AP emerged as number one in creating assets by creating more than 55 lakh assets, including social infrastructure and individual assets of households in the state in this year, till date.

Naturally, it retained first place in total expenditure, as it has been spending money on developing social infrastructure. As on November 24, the state government spent more than Rs 6,100 crore, the officer informed. In the components like providing wages to the workers, Direct Benefit Transfers and others also it emerged as number one in the country.

In the Material and Skilled component, the state government is able to spend Rs 2,453 crore, Balasubrahmanyam said. He further informed that under the Individual Works component, the department has encouraged farmers in creating individual assets to the farmers across the state. Under this project, the government has been providing financial assistance to Horticulture and other sectors.

As Chief Minister has been encouraging farmers in constructing Vermi Compost centres and focusing on Zero Budget Natural Farming, the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development department ensured construction of more than 62,000 Vermi compost units in the state.

State becomes number two in this component in the country. Balasubrahmanyam informed that out of the sixteen parameters, the state is number one in eight, number two in five and number five in another two parameters.