Ensure pensions to all eligible people: CM Naidu

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday directed district collectors to ensure that all eligible individuals receive social security pensions, while ineligible beneficiaries are removed from the current list.
Chairing the second and final day of the collectors’ conference, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for physical verification using both technical and hybrid systems to identify and remove ineligible individuals from the list. He also stressed that irregularities in the issuance of Sadaram certificates to differently-abled individuals must be completely avoided.
The Chief Minister instructed the district collectors to ensure that doctors issuing Sadaram certificates strictly follow the guidelines set by the Medical Board. He further stated that action should be taken against any doctor found violating these norms.
Highlighting the importance of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in improving basic amenities in rural areas, the Chief Minister urged district collectors to effectively utilize the funds from the scheme to provide necessary infrastructure in villages.
He explained that if works are carried out for 100 days, funds for material components would be released, enabling faster completion of projects.
Chandrababu Naidu also announced that Rs 2,000 crore has already been released through the 15th Finance Commission for gram panchayats and that another Rs 1,100 crore would be released soon. The Chief Minister pointed out that nearly 80,000 km of rural roads already exist and directed the collectors to take steps to interlink major panchayat roads.
Expressing satisfaction with the development of internal roads in rural areas, the Chief Minister stressed that it is the responsibility of panchayats to provide essential amenities such as CC roads, drains, streetlights, drinking water, and toilets. He criticized the previous government’s neglect of the Jal Jeevan Mission scheme and praised the TDP-led NDA government for reviving these works.
Chandrababu Naidu also urged collectors to take steps to empower women in DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) groups, promoting them as entrepreneurs. He emphasized that while members of self-help groups have been limited to savings, securing bank loans, and managing small businesses, it is now time to elevate them to entrepreneurial roles.