N Chandrababu Naidu started his innings as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh with dedicating himself to make the new State the ‘No 1 State’ in India.
Soon after taking oath in the presence of a large number of non-Congress political stalwarts from across the country, Naidu signed four Government orders and files showering sops on different sections of society.
The first file signed by him was for setting up a committee of officials to decide the guidelines for waiving the loans of farmers, women’s self help groups and weavers.
He asked the committee to submit its report in 15 days so the farmers can get fresh loans within 45 days. Naidu’s second signature was on an order increasing the pension for aged and the destitute to Rs 1,000 per month. It will come into effect from the Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
His third decision was launching NTR Sujala Sravanti project under which the people will get 20 litres of mineral water for Rs 2. Meeting a major demand of women, Naidu announced closure of all the belt shops or unauthorised liquor shops in villages.
Thanking the Government employees for their struggle to keep Andhra Pradesh united, Naidu announced increasing employees’ retirement age from 58 to 60 years.
Addressing a mammoth gathering in Guntur, Naidu said that the purpose his swearing-in was not any ‘grand show’ (hungama), but it was an attempt to remove sense of insecurity and apprehensions created among the people of Seemandhra by the unjust and arbitrary division of the State by the last UPA Government.
He said that the Congress had gone home but left Andhra Pradesh in a grave crisis as the State was facing revenue deficit and was not in a position to pay salaries to the employees.
Naidu exuded confidence that Andhra Pradesh will get full cooperation and help from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that the presence of leaders like lK Advani, Rajnath Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and other BJP Chief Ministers and Union Ministers had boosted the morale and created a confidence among the people that they will be able to overcome all the challenges.
Echoing Modi’s statement, Naidu said, “I will work as a Coolie No 1 for the construction of new capital of Andhra Pradesh”. He appealed to the Telugu people across the world to contribute for the construction of the new capital.
Earlier Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh conveyed the message of Modi that the Centre will extend maximum cooperation for development of AP.
“Naidu, who was Chief Minister in the past has capability, efficiency administrative strength. I am confident that AP under his leadership will touch new heights,” he said.