Poverty-free AP my dream: CM

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched the distribution of the NTR Bharosa pension scheme by personally handing out pensions to beneficiaries at Penumaka village in the Mangalagiri Assembly segment on Monday morning.
Accompanied by the Minister for HRD, Education, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, and the local MLA, the Chief Minister drove straight to the hut of Islavath Sai in Penumaka. There, he handed over the pension to her and her parents, Banavath Pamulyanayak and Banavath Sita, all of whom are daily wage earners.
Later, at the Praja Vedika, the Chief Minister addressed the gathering, stating, “Real welfare is illuminating the lives of the people. This is the first step towards improving their living standards.” He emphasised that the new government had launched the pension distribution scheme as a first step towards fulfilling its promises. Recalling the slogan of TDP founder, the late N.T. Rama Rao, that society is a place of worship and the people are the real gods, Chandrababu Naidu said his government would take this as inspiration.
The Chief Minister promised to focus on the poor, stating, “My dream is to see a poverty-free society with no economic imbalances. Our thinking is always innovative.” He announced that the pension for the physically challenged has been revised to Rs 6,000 per month, highlighting society’s duty to encourage them.
Chandrababu Naidu criticized the previous government and officials who claimed it was impossible to distribute pensions through secretariat staff. “Today, pensions are being distributed through 1.25 lakh secretariat employees. I have also directed them to seek assistance from volunteers wherever necessary,” he said.
He reminded the public that on the day he assumed office, he signed five significant files. The first was the Mega DSC, the second was the revocation of the Land Titling Act, and the third was the revival of Anna Canteens. “We will soon begin filling the vacant posts of teachers. Anna Canteens will be revived soon, allowing people to have meals for just Rs 5,” he announced.
The Chief Minister also mentioned plans to provide training to the youth to enhance their skills and create better employment opportunities. “The previous administration reversed the lives of the people. We need to move forward after recovering from these losses and work together to create assets and distribute the revenue to the people,” he noted.
Chandrababu Naidu praised Minister for HRD, Nara Lokesh, for his victory in Mangalagiri with a majority of over 90,000 votes, attributing it to the blessings of the constituency’s people. “We will remember this and acknowledge it appropriately soon,” he added. He also criticized the YSRCP leaders for suppressing the people of the state for five years and creating an environment that deterred investors.
On Monday, pensions totalling over Rs 4,408 crore were distributed to 65.31 lakh beneficiaries across 28 different categories. A total of 1,20,097 secretariat employees were involved in the distribution, with instructions to seek volunteer assistance wherever necessary.