AP Govt committed to ryots' welfare: YSR

Ongole, Andhra Pradesh, Jun 23: Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today reiterated his government's commitment to the welfare and development of the farmers by transforming agriculture into a profitable business since 2004.

Participating in a public meeting organised in Prakasham District as part of the farmers' rallies by the Andhra Pradesh Congress Comittee (APCC) to highlight the farmers' loan waiver scheme, announced by the Congress-led UPA government recently, Dr Reddy said about 83 lakh farmers of a total of 1.50 crore farmers in the state, benefitted from the scheme with Rs 13,000 crore being written off.

Claiming the loan waiver scheme could be one of the historical decisions taken by any government in the world, he said Rs 566 crore worth loans were waived in Prakasham District alone benefitting 2.85 lakh farmers.

Stating that about Rs 16,000 crore worth of farmer loans were waived in the state since the Congress came to power, the Chief Minister said the government had also taken up irrigation projects under the massive 'Jalayagnam' Scheme.

About five lakh acre of land would come under cultivation additionally in Prakasham District.

Observing his government was implementing the free power scheme as promised by the party in 2004 election, Dr Reddy alleged the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) neither encouraged the farming sector during its tenure nor supported the present Congress Government in promoting agriculture, by making it a political issue.

UNI