Fee Reimbursement Arrears Rs. 8,300 Cr

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Tuesday, disclosed that the state government currently owes about Rs. 8,300 crore towards arrears of the Fee Reimbursement scheme. The CM was addressing a meeting at Vodarevu village of Chirala mandal during the Indiramma Bata program in Prakasam district.

The CM recalled that the Fee Reimbursement Scheme was launched in 2008 by the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, and that his successor K Rosaiah had continued the scheme, but that they did not clear the arrears to the colleges.

"These arrears have now accumulated to the tune of Rs 8,300 crore," he stated.

However, he announced that the scheme would continue despite financial constraints.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also listed out various schemes being implemented by his government for the welfare of the fishermen community. He said that his government has increased the annual budget for fishermen's welfare by five times, to Rs. 235 crore. Expressing concern over the impact of oil refineries and other projects on fishermen, he said that the government would take measures to resolve those issues. He also indicated that the government might provide subsidy on diesel for fishermen's trawlers.

The Chief Minister also promised the payment of an additional Rs. 20,000 for the Indiramma houses meant for fishermen.

Addressing a different meeting at Vodarevu, the Chief Minister said that the revenue from fish production was likely to double in the next two years. He said that the revenues would increase from the present Rs. 11,000 crore to Rs. 25,000 crore within two years.

While interacting with the weavers' community at Konijeti Chenethapuri at Nayunipalli, the Chief Minister assured the weavers that he would soon convene a meeting with union minister of state for Handlooms and Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi regarding the problems being faced by weavers in AP.

However, he maintained that his government was taking all possible measures for the welfare of the weavers' community - he stated that recently, Rs. 613 crores of weavers' loans were waived off.

Earlier, the Chief Minister participated in the "Sagara Meenotsavam", in which fish and prawn seed were let into the sea in consonance with the concept of bio-diversity.

Later, he also laid the foundation for a four-lane road between Vetapalem and Chirala. He interacted with farmers at the Agricultural Market Yard of Parchur, and distributed eligibility cards and agricultural tools among them. (INN)