AP CM felicitated by US Telugus

Hyderabad, May 7 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was felicitated jointly by the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) and the American Telugu Association (ATA) in Chicago today.

According to a release from Chief Minister's Office here, addressing the gathering, Dr Reddy said the irrigation projects undertaken by his government would make Andhra Pradesh a drought-free state by 2008-2009.

The chief minister congratulated the Telugus ''who crossed several seas for contributing to the development of the USA.'' ''During the 90s when the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh introduced liberalised economic policy, its results came to be felt by 1995. However, due to the lopsided policies of the then government in Andhra Pradesh, farmers and farm labourers remained backward,'' Dr Reddy opined.

Dr Reddy said his government had increased the pension to aged persons, destitutes and widows from Rs 75 to Rs 200 a month and about 10 lakh people receive the pension.

The government was providing all basic amenities in villages under the 'Indiramma' Scheme and was constructing houses for the poor on a massive scale.

About the Fab City, International Airport, Outer Ring Road and other development projects proceeding at a fast pace, he told the NRIs that his government was providing power to industries at a subsidised rate and free power to the farmers.

TANA President Bandla Hanumaiah urged the Chief Minister to take initiative to get classical language status for Telugu.

UNI