Tribal Welfare Minister claims all-round progress

• Priority to education, medical and health schemes
• Vuda takes up Telugu Museum at a cost of Rs 14 cr
• Kiran Kumar Reddy is the first Chief Minister who visited GK Veedhi mandal

Visakhapatnam: Minister for Tribal Welfare P Balaraju claimed that the State has witnessed all-round development in all spheres, including medical, health, education, infrastructure facilities and women empowerment, under the leadership of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

The Minister after hoisting the National Flag on the occasion of 67th Independence Day here at the Police Parade Grounds on Thursday, he said that in view of the legalisation of SC, ST Sub-Plan, the Chief Minister has laid stone for laying of roads in the Agency at an estimated cost of Rs 528 crore.

Furthermore, foundation-stones were laid for construction of 100-bed hospital and 133 KV sub-station in Chintapalli. About women empowerment, he said the government has provided loans to 2,966 Self-Help Groups to a tune of Rs 79 crore so far during this fiscal against the target of providing loans worth Rs 373 crore to 14,885 groups. In a step forward with an intention to encourage girl children in education without burdening their parents, the government has introduced Bangarutalli scheme in which the government will take care of them till the completion of their graduation. In addition to that, nutritious food was being provided to reduce the mother and infant mortality rate at an expenditure of Rs 56.54 crore annually.

On education front, the government took up a huge responsibility of providing additional classrooms, toilets and compound walls to all the schools at a cost of Rs 94 crore in this current financial year and more than 2.5 lakh school children were given uniform. Mr. Balaraju said five Model Schools built with Rs 15 crore were inaugurated by the Chief Minister in Cheedikada, Narsipatnam, Ravikamatam, Munagapaka and Kasimkota mandals to improve educational standard. Under the mid-day meals scheme, 3.29 lakh school children were being benefited in the district.

The Minister said that with an aim to extend corporate medicare to the poor, the government launched Rajiv Arogyasri from which 91,266 people were benefited. He said the government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 30 crore to the KGH for providing medical equipment like computerised radiography system, NICU unit and ventilators on the lines of corporate hospitals. Recently, the government has okayed the merger of Bhimunipatnam and Anakapalli municipalities with GVMC with a view to extend its jurisdiction to ensure faster development.

About the progress of irrigation projects, Balaraju said that construction of mini reservoirs on Tacheru, Rangabolugedda, Urakagedda, Palagedda, Jaggammagedda and Isukagedda are in progress and it would provide water to 7,500 acres in the district. Similarly the barrages being built on Tandava, Varaha and Sarada rivers to stabilise the water levels with Rs 43.78 crore are also under progress.

Above all, to propagate the importance of Telugu language and literature, the Vuda has taken up constructing Telugu Museum atop Kailasagiri tourist spot at a cost of Rs 14 crore and it was nearing completion. Earlier, he inspected the guard of honour. Collector V Seshadri, Commissioner of Police B Sivadhar Reddy, DIG Umapathi, SP Duggal, Vuda VC Dr N Yuvaraj, Municipal Commissioner M V Satyanarayana, officials, school children and freedom fighters were present at the celebrations.