Corporates to help villages

Mr Naidu was speaking at a meeting with industrialists from health, education, biotechnology, pharma, finance, sanitation, technology and other sectors on Monday. The Chief Minister asked industrialists to contribute their expertise to the government’s flagship ‘Smart Village, Smart Ward’ programmes. Speaking to the media, AP communications adviser Parakala Prabhakar said that 2,032 industrialists and others had signed up for the programme.

At the conclave, attended by about 100 industrialists, Mr Naidu explained the seven missions, five grids and five campaigns have been taken up. The CM suggested that industrialists and corporates should coordinate and partner with Janmabhoomi Maa Vooru Committees at the village and mandal levels to develop them. Mr Naidu felt that a team of government officials must work with industry as well.

J.A. Chowdary of the Industrial Development Form suggested that the government should have smartness and quality indices to measure the effectiveness of the programme.

Mr Srini Raju told Mr Naidu that the Sri City Foundation was already working on skill development and social empowerment. Mr Naidu asked the Foundation to adopt over 100 villages near Sri City, to which Mr Raju agreed.

Jain Education, which charges Rs 1for underprivileged kids in their schools, agreed to contribute on the education front. Vishal Ketani of Coca Cola said the company was working on water management, sanitation and drinking water, as part of their corporate social responsibility activities. The company has adopted six villages in AP under the programme.

Mr Bhaskar Rao, who is associated with the Andhra Chambers of Industry, said they were ready to adopt 500 villages. He said the organisation was currently working on organic farming with farmers and on skill development. A representative from Dr Reddy’s Labs said the company is working on improving livelihood through skills development.