Venkaiah suggests 7-point plan of action

New Delhi, March 17 (INN): Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday held extensive discussions with the Union Ministers of Agriculture, Rural Development and Minister of State for Home on the difficulties being faced by the farmers and the people of the four districts of Rayalaseema on account of drought, shortage of drinking water, lack of fodder for cattle and banks not giving crop loans.

A delegation of farmers from the region led by state BJP President and Member of Lok Sabha K Hari Babu briefed the union ministers in detail the problems being faced by the people of Rayalaseema. Former union minister D Purnadheswari and BJP leader Shanta Reddy also attended the meeting with union ministers in the office of Venkaiah Naidu in Parliament House on Tuesday.

After listening to the members of the delegation, Venkaiah Naidu has sought the response from the senior officials of the concerned ministers regarding the reports received from the Government of Andhra Pradesh and actions that could be taken to help the people overcome the difficulties.

Naidu then suggested the following to ensure immediate help to the suffering people: To immediately release for drinking water schemes without insisting on Utilization Certificates for the funds released earlier; To immediately release funds for procurement and supply of fodder to the cattle; To arrange input subsidy to the farmers; To enhance wage employment under MNREGA from the present 100 days to 150; To immediately dispatch central teams to the drought affected region for assessing the damage or releasing funds; To assist Handri-Neeva Irrigation Project under Accelerated Irrigated Benefit Scheme (AIBP) since Rayalaseema is being frequently affected by drought forcing migration of people to other area; and Finance Ministry to take up with the Banks to extend crop loans to farmers.

Minister of Rural Development and Drinking Water & Sanitation Chowdary Birendra Singh at once agreed to the suggestion of Venkaiah Naidu to release funds for drinking water supply without insisting on Utlilization Certificates and Rs 80 crore will be immediately released. He also said that Rs 8 crore will be released immediately for fodder supply. He further said that the state government has propose a Rs.1880 crore scheme for long term solution to the drinking water problem in Rayalaseema.

While the Central Government can provide over Rs 300 crore, his ministry would assist the state government in obtaining further support from the World Bank and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), he said. The minister also responded positively on increasing wage employment under MNREGA.

Minister of Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh and MoS (Home) Kiren Rijuju have informed Venkaiah Naidu that the two ministries would immediately do the needful for sending central teams to Rayalaseema for assessing the drought impact. Rijuju said based on the assessment of the situation, needful will be done to provide additional assistance over and above what the state is entitled to.

Regarding crop loans to the farmers, Naidu suggested to Haribabu and the delegation to take up the issue with Finance Minister assuring them that he will also take up the matter with Arun Jaitely.

This delegation was led by Hari Babu , President BJP Andhra Pradesh along with senior leaders form Rayalaseema Challapalli Narasimha Reddy, D Purendeerswari, Dr Harinath Reddy, Kandula Rajmohan Reddy, Bhanuprakash Reddy, Kapalieswariah, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy and BJP district presidents of Chittoor, Cudappah, Ananthapur and Kurnool were present.

Venkaiah Naidu thanked the ministers for meeting the delegation and positively responding to the problems of the people of Rayalaseema.