Jagan promises YSR’s golden era

• The manifestos include all promises made by Jagan in the last four years
• He insists that he is not making tall promises like Naidu
• Quotes figures to show that YSR bettered the TDP chief in all aspects
• To toe YSR path for overall development of Telangana State
• For transparency, his government will consult CAG/judiciary on key issues
• Touches upon basic issues of all classes of society; Major thrust on reviving economy

Hyderabad: Laying great stress on both development and welfare, YSR Congress Party President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Sunday released separate manifestos for Telangana and residuary state of Andhra Pradesh. Elections to 17 Lok Sabha and 119 Assembly seats in Telangana will be held on April 30, whereas 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha constituencies in Seemandhra will go to polls on May 7.

Briefing media persons on his vision for both the States, Jagan vowed to bring back the ‘Golden Era’ of YSR regime. He said no other Chief Minister ruled the State like YSR. He extensively quoted statistics to drive home the message of unparallel growth under the YSR regime (2004-2009). He contrasted them with those during the Naidu regime of 1994 to 2004 and took potshots at the TDP chief. He claimed that unlike TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, he was a next generation leader and had better vision and abilities that Naidu.

Unveiling his action plan for speedy development of Seemandhra, Jagan said that his party, if voted to power, would establish a world-class capital city, 10-lane road and rail corridor between Kuppam and Srikakulam , international airports in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati, and promotion of manufacturing , agro and electronic industries on a large-scale. A steel plant would come up in YSR Kadapa district. In new industries, 70 per cent of the employment would be provided to the local youth.

Stating that his party was aiming at increasing the GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) at district-level by setting up investment hubs and model cities, the YSR Party leader said that all district roads would be upgraded to four lanes, which would be further connected to industrial corridors. The capital city for Seemandhra would be developed at a fast pace on a par with Hyderabad. Jagan said the city would be at the centre of the state where land and water resources are aplenty. “We will create a euphoria and create an atmosphere to attract investments in a big way.

Top class universities and schools will also be set up there, besides promoting it as a Garden City,” he explained thus his vision for the new capital. Jagan vowed to complete the pending projects of NTPC-BHEL at Mannavaram and roll out IT investment regions (ITIRs) in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra. Declaring that his party would continue all the welfare schemes launched by his father and late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, he promised 10 lakh houses every year for the poor. The beneficiaries would also be provided Rs 30,000 to 40,000 loans, by mortgaging their houses in the banks under a self-employment scheme. The age limit for the old age pension scheme would be reduced from 65 to 60 years. For the employees, he promised a good pay revision commission, cashless medical treatment, housing scheme and regularisation of eligible contract employees.

In a bid to keep various sections in good stead, the party also promised stabilisation and calamity relief fund for farmers. He castigated Chandrababu Naidu for his "false" promise of loan waiver for farmers to the tune of Rs 1,27,000 crore. There would also be agriculture and veterinary universities and ‘mobile van service’ to help farmers in different aspects of farming. A Rs 2,000 crore calamity relief fund would also be set up for the benefit of the farming community. “We will roll out a scheme 'Ammavodi' (mother's lap). Rs 500 per school-going child will be deposited in the mother's bank account," Jagan said. He said that in contrast to the partial reimbursement of tuition fees, his government would fully reimburse tuition fees. Senior citizens would be provided pension of Rs 700 and loans given to women SHGs would be waived, he said.

As part of taking administration to the doorsteps of people in the nook and corner of the State, an office would be set up with 10 local women in every village to work for safety of women and monitor citizen's services. The office would also provide any card like PDS ration card within 24 hours. He said that about two lakh women would get employment under the new system. He also announced waiver of Rs.20,000 crore loans of DWCRA self-help groups. YSRCP said it would provide Rs100 subsidy on cooking gas, provision of 150 units of power supply for Rs 100. Jagan said Arogyasree, the free healthcare scheme for poor, would be extended to a super speciality hospital in every district in Seemandhra. He said this would compensate the loss of Hyderabad for the region.

The ArogyaSri health insurance scheme would be implemented effectively and the beneficiaries would also be provided assistance after their treatment, it said. For those undergoing surgeries under ArogyaSri, Rs 3,000 per month would be given till they return to work. He promised that the State would be rid of power cuts by 2019 and SC colonies would be provided power at subsidised rates. He also promised free education to all from nursery to PG.

Speaking of the power sector, he said the Seemandhra State would be upgraded as power cut-free state by 2019. Poor families consuming below 150 units would be supplied power at Rs 100 per month.

To speed up governance and take it to the doors of common people, he said he would bring in a high-level of transparency in the administration. On the transparency in administration, Jagan said that if voted to power, his government would approach CAG or the judiciary on important issues prior to their implementation so that there is no room for any allegations.”

Jagan stated that posts were not important for him. He was offered Chief Minister and Union Minister posts by AICC president Sonia Gandhi when he launched ‘Odarpu yatra’ to console the families of those who died of shock after hearing the tragic death of YSR.

Other schemes mentioned in T manifesto and Seemandhra manifesto are the same. Jagan spent most part of his briefing, lashing out at Chandrababu Naidu. He said, “the GDP during Chandrababu Naidu’s rule was 5.7% only. But, the figure was 9.6 % during the rule of YSR, and the figure went down to 6.8 % after YSR’s demise.”

He said, “The agricultural growth rate during Chandrababu rule was 3.84 % and the figure went up to 6.14 % during the rule of YSR. But, the figure went down to 2.56% after YSR died in 2009.”

“During the rule of Chandrababu, about 65 public sector undertakings were closed down and about 26,000 persons lost their jobs,” said Jagan. In the same vein, he pointed out that the “total number of IT employees during the rule of Chandrababu was 81,000 only. But, the figure went up to 2.35 lakh during the rule of YSR.”