UPA is for the poor and downtrodden: Tirupati MP

Tirupati: The Tirupati Congress MP Mr Chinta Mohan on Sunday said that the UPA government at the Centre and the Congress government in the state are committed to the uplift of the poor and downtrodden. As part of his "Nagara Baata" program, the MP took a whirlwind tour of various wards under Tirupati Municipal Corporation limits on Sunday. Addressing the public at various wards, he said that during the last seven years, the Congress government had spent over Rs one lakh crores for the NREGS workers in rural areas. He said that keeping in view of the urban poor, the Central government will soon be getting the food security act. Under this scheme, all the urban poor are entitled to have 35 kgs of rice per month at Rs 3 a kg. The bill should have implemented much earlier, but couldn't pass due to the uproar created by the opposition parties in the last parliament session, he added. He confidently said that this time it will pass in the session. The MP said another scheme for the benefit of pregnants and lactating mothers will be implemented soon, he added. The cabinet gave a green signal to Duggarajapatnam Port as it will become an industrial corridor which will provide more than one lakh jobs, he added. When some women pointed out about belt shops, he directed the police officials to remove belt shops with immediate effect. He said that top priority was given to the health aspect of people and for this purpose the SVIMS and SVRR Hospitals were strengthened with more funds and infrastructure. He said that in three months, the Maternity Hospital with advanced facilities would be started, and at the same time the Cancer Hospital would have its foundation stone laid. The MP said that he had brought to the notice of the Centre the financial crunch faced by the SV University and SP Mahila University. He said that foundation stone would be laid soon in Tirupati for International Cricket Stadium.

Nehru Swagruha scheme soon Apart from the State government's 'Indiramma Housing' and 'Rajiv Swagruha', the Central government is also coming up with another scheme 'Jawaharlal Nehru Swagruha' to construct homes to all eligible beneficiaries those who don't have shelter in urban areas, the MP said. The Union government is planning to construct at least 10,000 houses in all 50 municipal wards in Tirupati city within 18 months. Addressing a meeting of Self Help Groups in YSR Bhawan here on Sunday, he said the State and Central governments have provided homes to almost all 70 per cent of rural population under various welfare schemes, but there is a need of permanent shelter to urban poor. All these houses would be on the name of women of respective families and appealed women of SHGs to apply for homes by submitting the duly filled applications to group leaders. He distributed few applications to women. Nation will attain development with the uplifting of women and hence union government has decided to construct all these houses under this new scheme, MP pointed. Prime minister will lay down foundation stone to Duggarajapatnam port, which falls under Tirupati Parliamentary constituency, soon, he replied to a query.