AP Govt to accelerate development activities

Hyderabad, Dec 3 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh government has conceived a three point formula to accelerate development activities about which Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy will deliberate with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to the state tomorrow.

According to sources, the formula comprising of additional impetus for elevating backward regions, women empowerment, minorities welfare, well-being of farmers and labour would become part of Chief Minister's presentation at the crucial session of National Development Council at Delhi on December 9.

The Chief Minister would brief the Prime Minister on the achievements and the far reaching initiatives like Jalayajnam, free power to farmers, Pavala Vaddi scheme for women and extensive bank credit to farmers, empowerment of youth under Rajiv Yuva Shakti, the sources added.

Women empowerment was one of the top priority programmes of the government which had plans to enhance the bank credit link to Self Help Groups(SHG) to a landmark of Rs 10,000 crore in the next three years.

The government proposed to reduce the burden of LPG from the current Rs 300 to Rs 250 per cylinder to benefit the housewives by supplying gas from Krishna-Godavari basin through pipeline. Recent discussions with the Reliance Industries Chief Mukesh Ambani were fruitful, sources mentioned.

The Andhra Pradesh government would seek additional funds from the Centre for achieving the goal of complete women empowerment by 2010.

The Chief Minister also proposed to focus attention on the alarmingly depleting sex ratio which had fallen to 1000:933 in Hyderabad, as against 1000:978 (men and women) in the state.

Regarding Muslim minorities in the state, the government was committed to its proposal to provide five per cent reservation to provide them equal opportunities in education and employment.

The Chief Minister would seek Central assistance besides participation of nationalised banks and NABARD in the welfare fund to benefit farmers and workers in times of necessity.

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