First phase of NTR Sujala Sravanti scheme kicks off on Oct 2

The first phase of the NTR Sujala Sravanti Scheme, which envisages providing 20-litre of packaged drinking water for Rs 2 for rural areas in Andhra Pradesh, will be launched on October 2, State Minister for Women and Chief Welfare P Sujatha said here today.
"The scheme will be launched for 5200 houses (in East Godavari district) in the first phase on October 2, along with the BPL pension scheme," Sujatha said while addressing a programme on the waiver of loans to farmers.
Sujatha said the implementation of the pension scheme will also kick off from October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

State chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had announced a hike in social security pension for BPL people from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 per head per month after being sworn in as the first chief minister of AP on June 8.
Naidu had also announced implementation of a scheme under which pension given to the disabled people has been increased to Rs 1,500 from Rs 1,000. "This scheme will be also implemented from October 2," said Sujatha, who also holds the portfolio of Mines.
The minister added that the state government will soon start issuing NTR Health Cards, through which unemployed people would get free medical treatment, to eligible persons.

"The government will also extend all types of aid, including financial assistance, to eligible persons," she said.

Sujatha also informed the gathering about the steps being taken towards completion of the multi-purpose Polavaram project within three years. "With this project, water will be provided to four-five districts in Andhra Pradesh," she said.
On recent inclusion of seven mandals from Telangana into new Andhra Pradesh, the minister said that the government will develop them accordingly.
While four of the seven mandals fall in East Godavari district, the rest in West Godavari district.
Meanwhile, District Agricultural Department Joint Director, Vijay Kumar said on the occasion that at least four lakh farmers from the region will benefit from the loan waiver scheme. "The waiver amount for farmers in the region is estimated at Rs 3500-4000 crore," he said.