India
Naidu Pledges Balanced Focus on Welfare and Development, Announces Aquaculture University for Narsapuram
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu stated that the coalition government is placing equal emphasis on welfare, development, and good governance, with economic empowerment of the poor as its central goal. Speaking at the distribution of NTR Bharosa pensions in Mogalthur, part of the Narsapuram Assembly constituency, on Tuesday, Naidu recalled that it had been 31 years since he first took oath as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh on September 1. He noted that numerous reforms and programmes had since been introduced to encourage public awareness and participation in governance.
The Chief Minister said pension amounts had been increased for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities, among other groups. He revealed that Rs 73,507 crore had been disbursed to the poor through pensions, while Rs 1.50 lakh crore had been spent on welfare schemes over the last two years.
Naidu credited the savings movement started through DWCRA groups with laying the groundwork for women's empowerment. He mentioned that the Deepam scheme was launched to ease cooking-related difficulties for women, and under Deepam-2.0, three free LPG cylinders are now provided annually. To encourage greater participation of women across sectors, a 33 percent reservation has been implemented. He added that one lakh DWCRA women became MSME entrepreneurs last year, with an even higher target set for this year. The government also plans to offer marketing support for DWCRA products under the 'Swayam' brand.
Addressing social equity, Naidu acknowledged that SCs, STs, and minorities continue to experience economic and social disadvantages, and said the government is working to uplift these communities. He cited reservations for Vadderas in mining and for toddy tappers in liquor shops as examples, and noted that the long-pending SC categorisation issue had finally been resolved. He also mentioned that students from tribal areas are receiving training and support to pursue competitive exams and higher education at institutions like IITs and IIMs.
The Chief Minister remarked that any village with poor residents should be a cause for concern, and said the government is committed to reducing economic disparities so that everyone can live with dignity, citing the P4 initiative as part of this effort.
On infrastructure, Naidu said the Veligonda Project has brought Krishna river water to drought-affected areas, and plans are underway to channel Godavari water to North Andhra via the left canal. He said efforts are being made to ensure Godavari water reaches Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam next year, followed by the Vamsadhara region, as part of a broader goal to address water scarcity through river interlinking.
Criticizing previous administrations for driving industries out of the state and harming youth employment prospects, Naidu said his government is now attracting large-scale investment into Andhra Pradesh. He also highlighted efficient management of electricity utilities, lower power procurement costs, and reduced electricity burdens through the True Down initiative. Aqua farmers are being supplied power at Rs 1.50 per unit, and he expressed hope that the state's aquaculture products could compete globally.
The government is also exploring ways to deliver online government services to the state's 1.60 crore families, and is prioritizing the installation of solar panels in households under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.
Naidu assured that the Narsapuram region would see further development, including the establishment of an Aquaculture University, a dump yard, and Delta Modernisation works.
He expressed confidence that the NDA alliance would remain dominant in future elections in the state. Emphasizing the importance of strong local governance for rural development, he called on ward members, sarpanches, MLAs, and MPs to actively participate in governance to improve access to central funding for rural projects. He alleged that certain groups are trying to delay local body elections and obstruct the state's development.
The event was also attended by Ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu and Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Deputy Speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju, Union Minister Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Whip Bolisetti Srinivas, and other leaders.