CM Naidu Calls for Convergence of Welfare Schemes to Maximise Benefits for Poor

Vijayawada:Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday called for greater convergence of welfare schemes to ensure maximum benefits to poor families and directed officials and public representatives to help reduce poverty and economic inequalities in Andhra Pradesh.

He announced that the Swachh Andhra awards would be presented on October 2 every year at state, district, mandal and village levels in various categories.

Addressing a Zoom conference from Amaravati on convergence of welfare programmes and the P4 initiative, Naidu said every poor family in the state was receiving four to five government schemes and stressed the need to coordinate these benefits to provide greater support.

He said schemes such as Stree Shakti, Thalliki Vandanam and Deepam were benefiting poor families. Under the P4 programme, mentors were already extending support to 11 lakh “golden families”, he said, adding that the implementation of the model should be continuously monitored.

Naidu suggested creating a system on the lines of a Social Stock Exchange to monitor P4 activities and measure their impact. He said poverty eradication and reduction of economic inequalities should be treated as a continuous process, with constituencies developed towards becoming free of poverty and disparities.

The CM stressed the need for capacity-building programmes for every government employee and elected representative. He said the government was examining the possibility of providing training to officials through IITs and IIMs and was also considering similar programmes for public representatives at institutions such as IIMs.

Collectors and nodal officers should focus on development, welfare and good governance in constituencies and coordinate with ministers, MLAs, MPs and other elected representatives while working at the grassroots level, he said.

Giving importance to political governance, Naidu called for strengthening constituency-level vision units. He said plans were being prepared at state, district and constituency levels under Swarna Andhra.

The CM said the Centre was considering adopting some of the best practices being implemented in Andhra Pradesh across the country. Technology should be extensively used in governance to make citizen services easier and create a positive public perception.

The government, he said, is promoting women entrepreneurs and working for the economic empowerment of DWCRA women through the Swayam brand. Palle Panduga-3.0 was creating large-scale assets in rural and urban areas, he said, directing that development works be executed transparently and with quality.

The CM also directed officials to prevent inflationary pressures from burdening people. Steps had been taken to supply onions at lower prices through Rythu Bazaars, he said and urged officials and public representatives to work collectively to retain public trust.

The government’s objective, he said, is to establish Andhra Pradesh as a model state in welfare, development and good governance.