Govt doing well: Kiran Reddy

Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said his government had achieved both political and financial stability.

“Now we have people only coming to our side, none is going away from the government,” the chief minister said in response to a question on the possibility of a few more MLAs joining the ranks of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is currently under the CBI scanner.

It may be recalled that about 29 MLAs, 26 from the Congress, had tendered their resignations recently in support of Jagan.

While informally interacting with the media on his birthday on Tuesday, Reddy said his government was strong and performing.

“We have achieved stability as far as the state finances are concerned. We are committed to continue all the welfare schemes currently in implementation. In fact, the state’s financial position allows me to launch a few more schemes,” he said, stating that no other state in the country on Tuesday was spending more than a quarter of what Andhra Pradesh was spending on various welfare schemes.

The government has also provided a green channel for budgetary provisions given to various social welfare schemes, including interest subvention to self-help groups, which will be automatically released to the departments concerned without going through any approval process.

On crop holiday in several districts, the chief minister said he had asked his officials to examine the report submitted on the issue by a committee headed by retired IAS officer Mohan Kanda.

The government needs to procure 4-5 million tonne paddy, nearly 30 per cent of the total production, to make market intervention effective, he said. Last year, the state procured 2.3 million tonne paddy through SHGs to stabilise paddy prices.

On enhancing VAT rates by one per cent, he said the government had no choice but to implement the suggestion given by the Centre as the state would lose Rs 1,000 crore central grant.