Internet, TV, Phone for 149 per month in AP soon

New Delhi, Dec 10 (INN): Minister for Information and Public Relations, Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Palle Raghunatha Reddy said Andhra Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has emerged as a role model for entire country in using Information Technology along with internet of things (IOT) for real time governance and transparency in implementation of welfare schemes.

Addressing 28th conference of the state and union territories ministers of Information and Cinematography (SIMCON-XXVIII) here on Saturday, the minister said the ministry of Information and Public Relations played a crucial role in showcasing the welfare and development activities of the state after its bifurcation. He said Andhra Pradesh is ahead in promoting cashless transactions through introducing e-PoS devices in 29,000 fair price shops in the state and also encouraging farmers and farm hands to use the digital money through Rupay card and debit cards.

The minister said AP Government is going to emerge as Number One state by introducing AP Fiber Grid system soon by which people will get internet, television and phone connectivity with a nominal charge of Rs. 149 per month.

He said Andhra Pradesh Government has launched Working Journalists Health scheme in 2015-16 covering the journalists and their family members by which cash less treatment is being offered to the journalists to the tune of Rs 2.5 lakhs.

In addition the State Government also providing a comprehensive insurance Scheme (accidental) for 11,502 working journalists of print & electronic media with provision of Rs.10 lakh in case of death.

The minister said the State Government has established command control room and successfully conducted Krishna Pushkarams by handling the gathering of crores of people. The Chief Minister took initiative to monitor the big event and crowd management using "drone cameras" and "surveillance cameras and face identification devices" to curb the movement of anti-social elements. He said the Chief Minister has been virtually monitoring the progress of Polavaram project works using drone cameras to complete the project as per the schedule.

Referring to film industry, the minister said Andhra Pradesh Government has taken up effective steps to attract the Telugu film industry from Hyderabad(Telangana) over to Visakhapatnam and other picturesque locations. Minister requested the GoI to sanction Film & TV Training Institute at Visakhapatnam for the promotion of TV and Film Industry in Andhra Pradesh and requested for Digital Animation Centre at Tirupati.

e-Learning centres introduced in Primary education:

The minister said the state government has been taking up initiative to strengthen the primary education by introducing e-learning and e-class rooms at various government schools. To achieve the targets in promoting primary education, the state needs separate TV channel on par with MANA TV channel. He said Andhra Pradesh Government is successfully utilising the Community Radio Stations (CRS) to encourage villagers to speak issues concerning their lives like agricultural, health, educational, environmental, social welfare, community development.

The minister said AP needs more community radio centres because the state has 970 km coastal line and more prone to cyclones and natural calamities. He said that the state require more number of community radio centres to sensitise people during natural calamities to prevent human and property loss.

He said that the I&PR department has successfully taken up the publicity for the unique strategy of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to achieve all round development of the state with 7 Missions and 5 Grids. To top it all, the AP Government is going to introduce AP Fiber Grid system soon by which people will get internet, television and phone connectivity with a nominal charge of Rs. 149 per month.