Governor E S L Narasimhan unleased a fusillade of praise upon the Telangana government in his Republic Day speech.
Telangana Governor E S L Narasimhan today said that the infant state had been on growth path for the past three-and-a-half years, and was living up to the expectations of the people.
The Governor unfurled the national flag at Secunderabad's Parade Grounds to mark the 69th Republic Day after reviewing the parade and receiving salutes from the Air Force, Navy and Army.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that he was proud to announce that the state government was able to fulfill the desires of the people, and was spending a whopping Rs 40,000 crores per annum for their welfare.
"I recall that my first speech in Telangana was delivered from this same place in 2014, and now speak with a lot of confidence that the pace of progress will soon enable us reach the destination of Bangaru Telangana," he added.
The state had run into some hurdles and challenges but overcame them through collective efforts, and was setting records of sorts in the ease of doing business and other such metrics, and was now becoming a role model for other states in several fields, he said. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report said that Telangana ranked first in the country in income growth, and the Centre had declared that the state stood first in the Ease of Doing Business rankings. And in 2017, India Today had adjudged the state as the State Of The States.
The Governor then listed the various initiatives of the government. He started with the power sector in which he said that the state had surpassed all odds to increase capacity from 6,574 MW at the time of formation in June 2014 to 14,845 MW now, and would enhance it to 28,000 MW by 2020 to become a power-surplus state. The government had also succeeded in its efforts to supply free 24-hour power to the agriculture sector, he said.
The irrigation sector was getting Rs 25,000 crores for the completion of projects, and Kaleshwaram would turn North Telangana into a green bed, he claimed. And farmers were being offered Rs 8,000 per acre as crop investment to help them get out of their loans, he added.
The Yadavas and the fishing community were being empowered through the sheep and the fisheries schemes, and modern saloons were being offered for the Nayi Brahmans. The IT sector was witnessing 12% growth in exports and was being expanded to the second rung cities in the state and would provide two lakh new jobs. The government was offering Rs 75,116 for the marriages of poor girls through Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak, and pensions of Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Salaries for Anganwadis, Asha workers, home guards and VRAs had been increased, the Governor said.
The government was providing modern facilities in government hospitals by spending Rs 265 crores, and was offering "KCR Kits" with Rs 12,000 worth of assistance for pregnant women. It was also spending adequate funds for the education of SCs, STs, BCs and minorities, and giving Rs 1,000 in pension to the Gouda community and Rs 5 lakhs in accident insurance, he added.
The Governor pointed out that NITI Aayog described these programs as role models.
Also, Rajender Singh, popularly known as the "water man of India", was all praise for Mission Kakatiya during his visit to the state, and Mission Bhagiratha had won the prestigious HUDCO award, the Governor noted.