In the backdrop of impressive display of Telangana Kala Rupas, symbolising the pride of Telangana’s traditional and folk art forms from the ramparts of Golconda fort, Chief Minister K.Chandrasekhar Rao chose the 71st Independence Day celebrations to make a significant announcement — a comprehensive land survey programme here on Tuesday.
After unfurling the tri-colour and accepting the guard of honour, Mr. Rao delivered his address reiterating the State Government’s commitment to development and welfare for creation of a Bangaru Telangana. “The State is on track thanks to various flagship programmes and with 21.7 growth rate in 2016-17, highest in the country,” he said.
In a direct call to farmers, he urged them to come out voluntarily to make the survey a great success in the coming months as the Government was taking up the massive exercise after a gap of 81 years. No land survey had been ever taken up in the State after it was done way back in 1936 under the Nizam, he said.
“ Every farmer should become a leader in his village and not remain a silent spectator. After the survey, the land records will be rectified, farmers will be given new passbooks. It will help the government implement transparent and corruption-free policies,” he said.
Unveiling his government’s programmes for farmers’ empowerment and to make agriculture profitable, Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao said crop colonies would be created in the State soon to ensure better price and marketing for farmers’ crops. Government would soon form farmers’ associations and federation to unify them and help them work for their welfare. “After waiving Rs.17,000 crore crop loans as promised, the government was bringing in agriculture reforms to address all their issues — providing ₹8,000 per acre to farmers in a year for two crops from next year for agriculture inputs, provide quality seeds and fertilisers on time, amended laws for stringent action against sale of spurious seeds and fertilisers and creation of 22.5 lakh tonnes godown storage capacity to help farmers store their produce.”
The next big announcement was for unemployed youth.
“After providing 27,660 appointments so far, recruitment process would begin for providing 84,876 jobs soon. Instructions were issued to start the recruitment process and fill vacancies required for next year too. With this government would create 1,12,536 jobs more than the one lakh jobs promised,” he said.
On the industry front, the Chief Minister announced that the State had attracted ₹.1.01 lakh crore investment so far due to its TS iPass industrial policy, quality power supply, ease of doing business with clearances to 4,118 new industries and employment opportunities to 2.9 lakh people.
Mr. Rao highlighted State’s impressive performance in power sector and resolved to supply 24-hour free power to farm sector from next summer.
He spoke about flagship programmes of Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya, Haritha Haram, irrigation projects to irrigate one crore acres, setting up 522 residential schools under KG to PG programme for SCs, STs, BCs and minorities who comprise 90% of State’s population, and two-bedroom housing. Distribution of sheep, fillip to fisheries, and modern tools and equipment to caste-based vocations like washermen, and barbers were part of reviving the rural economy, he said.