Naidu working for an inclusive government: Governor Nazeer

VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh Governor, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, has hailed Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu as a visionary leader committed to inclusive development in the state.

The state legislature sessions started with the Governor’s customary address to a joint session of the Assembly and Legislative Council on Monday morning. The address was drowned in protests from the opposition YSRC over a “breakdown of law and order in the state,” citing instances of recent attacks and violence.

The Governor highlighted the challenges faced by AP due to the 2014 bifurcation, including its loss of the financially vibrant Hyderabad as state capital. “The state bifurcation has imposed an unprecedented strain on the economy of the state. There are patent inconsistencies in the distribution of assets and liabilities.” With (residuary AP having) 58.32 per cent of the combined state’s population, the unscientific bifurcation caused AP to inherit only 46 per cent of the resources, he said.

He cited the financial loss to AP on account of the loss of Hyderabad city; the disproportionate debt burden; the loss of access to public institutions; the loss of national institutions, central PSUs & institutions of higher learning etc. These factors led to a structural change in the economy with a reduction of the services sector from 51 to 44 per cent, he noted.

“The per capita income too fell from `1,06,176 for the combined state, to `93,121 for AP. However, the government has laid a solid foundation for a vibrant “Sun Rise Andhra Pradesh.”

The Governor highlighted the positives – the completion of the prestigious Pattiseema project by linking of rivers Godavari and Krishna in a record time of one year; completion of 72 per cent of the Polavaram project; prioritisation of other irrigation projects; drought proofing measures; real-time governance; development of Amaravati region through land pooling; construction of a new Secretariat and Legislature buildings.

“All the milestones achieved during 2014-19 were possible because of the visionary leadership of CM Chandrababu Naidu. The state attracted several investments in various sectors.”

The Governor said, “The ‘regime-revenge’ politics (of the previous government) had severely hampered the state’s prospects. Even the AP High Court had sought to convene a judicial inquiry into whether there is a ‘constitutional breakdown’ in the state. The biggest damage was done to the ‘Brand AP’. About 25,000 cases have been filed for bill payments, which was unprecedented. The sheer number of contempt cases with personal appearances and arrest warrants against officials in several cases resulted in systematic humiliation and victimisation of bureaucracy. This led to a complete demoralisation of the administrative machinery.”

He said, “My government has launched its trademark people-centric governance soon after assuming office with a series of measures such as announcing a Mega DSC for filling up 16,347 teacher vacancies, abolishing the Land Titling Act, enhancing social security pensions to `4,000, organising a skill census and re-opening the Anna Canteens to provide food for the poor at a very nominal rate of `5, and supply of free sand. My government will initiate the other important measures also.”

The Governor said, “It requires collective thinking, extensive discussions with intelligentsia and academicians, to explore ways to overcome the current crisis. I appeal to the people of the state to understand the current alarming financial situation and cooperate with the government in rebuilding the state.”