The Governor said that the NDA government, realising the aspirations of the people, has remained committed to public welfare and restoring the state to its former glory.
Published Feb 24, 2025 | 3:37 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 24, 2025 | 3:37 PM
Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer.
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer praised the state government and outlined various initiatives it was taking to put the state back on the road to development. He highlighted several key measures undertaken by the state government as part of the implementation of Super Six promises.
Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer, on Monday, 24 February, described NDA’s victory in the recent Assembly elections as a testament to the people’s trust in Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership and outlined various initiatives that the current government was taking to put the state back on the road to development.
Addressing the joint session of both the Houses of the Andhra Pradesh Legislature on the inaugural day of the budget session, the Governor said that the NDA government, realising the aspirations of the people, has remained committed to public welfare and restoring the state to its former glory.
The Governor highlighted several key measures undertaken by the state government as part of the implementation of super six promises in its early days, including the abolition of the Land Titling Act, increasing social security pensions to ₹4,000, announcing a Mega DSC for recruiting 16,347 teachers, strengthening the education sector, conducting a skill census, reviving 204 Anna Canteens, improving rural infrastructure, launching a mission for pothole-free roads, and implementing a free sand policy.
As the Governor was addressing both Houses, Opposition YSRCP MLAs raised slogans, demanding official recognition of the party as the main Opposition party.
Despite the disruption, the Governor continued his address. After about 10 minutes, YSRCP MLAs, led by former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, staged a walkout. Outside the House, YSRCP leaders criticised the NDA government for not granting them official Opposition status, calling it undemocratic.
In his address, the Governor reflected on the dire state of affairs under the previous administration, marked by misappropriation and mismanagement across all sectors. He outlined the corrective measures taken by the current government to steer the state back toward development and prosperity.
Through white papers, the government exposed how the previous regime had pushed the state to the brink of disaster, the Governor said, citing the diversion of state resources, erosion of revenues, exorbitant debt levels, and the collapse of key sectors like irrigation and energy.
The Governor noted that in the past eight months, the government has restored accountability and good governance.
“We have revived 74 out of 93 centrally sponsored schemes halted by the previous regime, clearing liabilities of ₹9,371 crore. This has unlocked further funding from the government of India. To rebuild confidence in brand Andhra Pradesh, we have cleared bills worth ₹10,125 crores for irrigation, roads, and other projects,” he said.
The Governor also highlighted the revival of Amaravati and the Polavaram irrigation projects, the establishment of a steel plant, and the creation of a Railway Zone as a testament to the government’s commitment to Andhra Pradesh’s development. He announced the launch of 22 new policies aimed at driving sustained growth and prosperity.
“The state’s initiatives have already begun yielding results, with global giants like Google, ArcelorMittal, Tata Power, Greenko Group, BPCL, and TCS pledging investments totalling ₹6.5 lakh crore, potentially creating over 4 lakh jobs. Andhra Pradesh’s economy has grown to ₹16 lakh crore in 2024-25, up from ₹14.22 lakh crore the previous year, with a nominal growth rate of 12.94 percent. Per capita income has also risen to ₹2.68 lakh from ₹2.37 lakh,” the Governor said.
Nazeer praised Naidu for his pioneering efforts in empowering women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and for laying the foundation for Hyderabad’s emergence as a global IT hub.
He also highlighted Naidu’s vision for “Swaanandhra @ 2047,” which includes 10 guiding principles such as zero poverty, water security, skilling, and deep tech integration.
The Governor outlined initiatives to uplift Backward Classes (BCs), including the establishment of the Swarnakara Corporation and the provision of 33 percent reservations for BCs in the state Assembly. He also announced plans for a Family Benefit Card to streamline welfare distribution and a novel P4 (Public-Private-People Partnership) approach to poverty alleviation, where High-Net-worth Individuals (HNIs) will support the most vulnerable sections of society.
The Governor detailed the government’s efforts to drought-proof the state, particularly in Rayalaseema and North Andhra. He said that the Polavaram Irrigation Project, Andhra Pradesh’s lifeline, is 73 percent complete and is expected to benefit 28.50 lakh people.
Other key projects, such as the Handri Neeva Sujala Sravanthi (HNSS) and Veligonda Project, are also nearing completion, aiming to provide irrigation and drinking water to drought-prone regions.
The Governor emphasised Andhra Pradesh’s leadership in digital transformation, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, drones, and IoT to enhance governance, service delivery, and resource management.
“Andhra Pradesh is driving a total transformation of life through AI, revolutionising governance, law enforcement, and public services for unprecedented efficiency and transparency,” he said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
