KCR: Telangana has become a role model for other states

Reiterating his government's commitment to balance welfare with development, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandarasekhar Rao said the youngest state has become a role model for others to emulate.

Kicking off the fourth anniversary celebrations of the state’s formation on Saturday, the Chief Minister said, “The innovative schemes introduced by his government have impressed other states. Elected representatives and officials from other states have visited the state to see how these schemes are working so as to replicate them.”

The Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo said the state has been progressing well on all fronts and its growth rate shows that it is much ahead of the national average. The growth has been achieved in spite of hurdles created by vested interests.

“Over the years we had to encounter opposition from vested interests, who sought to stall the progress during the agitation for separate statehood. We continue to face such forces seeking to obstruct development. But the TRS government has proved that we can overcome such hurdles. This has made our pursuit for Bangaru (golden/ prosperous) Telangana a role model for other states,” he said.

The Chief Minister, while mentioning the obstacles created by governments in united Andhra Pradesh, which had led to lop-sided development in Telangana, said irrigation projects were started in locations where inter-state disputes were inevitable.

After the formation of the state, the TRS government sought to reverse these by entering into agreements with neighbouring Maharashtra for the construction of a project on the lower Penganga, a tributary of the Godavari river.”

Rao said the state had initiated works on 23 major and 13 medium irrigation projects on the Krishna and Godavari. The impact of these projects would be felt as they are implemented and would change the profile of the state.

The Chief Minister mentioned the investment support scheme introduced for the farming community. He said the life insurance scheme to be implemented from August 15 for farmers would ensure their security. “Due to various welfare measures for the farmers, we can see a smile on their face. Over the years they have had to face severe hardship due to neglect,” he said.

The Chief Minister reiterated the government would complete all pending irrigation projects and ensure that the drought-prone Palamuru district would be transformed as a green district.

He listed various projects and schemes that had made a big difference in the state, including two-bedroom houses for the poor, KCR Kits for pregnant women and formation of panchayats for STs. He said permissions were given to 7,155 industries, which had invested Rs 1.29 lakh crore and provided employment to 5.74 lakh people. Later in the day, Opposition parties refuted the claims of the Chief Minister with regard to development.