Andhra Pradesh Cabinet Clears Pushkaralu Security, Weaver Welfare Schemes

 Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved a series of welfare, infrastructure, industrial and higher education proposals, including allocations for the Godavari Pushkaralu-2027 and a new financial assistance scheme for handloom weavers.

Among major decisions, the Cabinet sanctioned Rs 641.10 crore for the Neradi Barrage under the Vamsadhara Stage-II Project and approved a revised estimate of Rs 312 crore for concrete lining of the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi main canal in Sri Sathya Sai district. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu presided over the meeting.

Briefing the media, information minister Kolusu Parthasarathy said the cabinet sanctioned Rs 50 crore for security and law-and-order for the Godavari Pushkaralu-scheduled for June and July 2027.

The funds will be utilised for police deployment, traffic regulation, crowd management, surveillance, river safety, disaster response, fire services, medical facilities, public amenities, communication systems and integrated command-and-control centres across East Godavari, Kakinada, Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Eluru, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Polavaram districts.

The Cabinet also approved the Netannala Sevalo scheme under which below-poverty-line handloom weaver families will receive an annual financial assistance of Rs Rs 25,000, irrespective of the beneficiary's age or the number of looms owned.

The scheme would benefit 51,952 active handloom weavers at an annual cost of Rs 129.88 crore. The assistance is intended to help beneficiaries purchase yarn, dyes and chemicals, modernise looms and improve productivity.

The Cabinet noted that the scheme complements existing welfare measures, including the Rs 4,000 monthly NTR Bharosa pension for eligible weavers above the age of 50, free electricity of 200 units for handloom weavers and 500 units for powerloom units, besides thrift fund assistance, cash credit support and raw material supply schemes.

The meeting approved the establishment of a government degree college for hearing-impaired students at Vedullapalli in Bapatla district from the 2026-27 academic year. The college will offer B.Com, Computer Applications (Major) and Artificial Intelligence certification courses with an intake of 30 students.

It also approved amendments to facilitate the establishment of Vishnu Women's University at Bhimavaram and Chalapathi University at Lam in Guntur district by upgrading existing institutions under the Brownfield category. The universities will reserve 35 per cent of seats under the government quota with concessional fee structures.

In the industrial sector, the Cabinet approved implementation of Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana (BHAVYA) projects through APIIC and NICDIT. Six priority industrial parks have been proposed for sectors including space, drones, aerospace and defence, organic foods, textiles and renewable energy manufacturing.

The Cabinet approved allotment of industrial space in Tower-1 of the Jet City Flatted Factory Complex at Jakkampudi in NTR district to original allottees, including ALEAP, and directed APIIC to complete the remaining towers through the public-private partnership model or with Central government assistance.

Approval was given also for a Rs 300-crore government guarantee to enable APMARKFED to raise a term loan from the Central Bank of India, besides clearing proposals relating to renewable energy, tourism, healthcare, modernisation of fire services under the 15th Finance Commission grant and establishment of a compressed biogas plant at Kuppam.

Nod was given also for development of an integrated aviation and aerospace hub at Puttaparthi, and revival of the Sri Kalahasteeswara Institute of Technology by leasing it to JNTU Anantapur with exemption from stamp duty and registration charges.

INFOGRAPH:

- Rs 50 crore approved for Godavari Pushkaralu-2027 security. Pushkaralu Coverage: 7 districts along the Godavari river

- 'Netannala Sevalo' – Rs 25,000 annual aid per BPL handloom weaver family. Beneficiaries: 51,952 handloom weavers. Scheme Outlay: Rs 129.88 crore

- New College: Government Degree College for hearing-impaired students at Vedullapalli, Bapatla

- New Universities: Vishnu Women's University and Chalapathi University approved

- Industrial Push: Six BHAVYA industrial parks cleared

- Irrigation Projects: Rs 641.10 crore for Neradi Barrage; Rs 312 crore for HNSS canal lining

- Agriculture: Rs 300 crore government guarantee for AP MARKFED loan

- Renewable Energy: Major approvals for solar, wind and compressed biogas projects

- Education Boost: Revival of SKIT campus through JNTU Anantapur lease with full stamp duty exemption