Follow the footsteps of great leaders: Indrakaran Reddy

Nirmal: Remembering the sacrifices of freedom fighters Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Abdul Kalam Azad, Dr Br Ambedkar and many others, Minister for Endowment, Forest and Environment Allola Indrakaran Reddy called upon the people to follow the footsteps of such great leaders.

He participated in the 73rd Independence Day celebrations at NTR Mini Stadium in Nirmal on Thursday. Speaking on the occasion, Minister Reddy said that after the formation of separate Telangana State, Nirmal district has been developing day-by-day with the welfare schemes and development works taken up by the TRS government. He said that he is feeling proud to explain the developmental works on this occasion.

The State government had increased the pensions of old-age, widows, physically challenged people from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000, increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 for handicapped and now it has doubled the amount, he stated. Other pensions have been increased from Rs 2,016 to Rs 3,016. The increasing of pensions had burdened the State government to Rs 1548 crores only in Nirmal district. He pointed out that the pension age also has been decreased from 65 to 57 years.

Under National Employment Guarantee Scheme 50,17,000 workdays have been provided to the workers against the target of 43,97,000 workdays. Under the Central government scheme Swachh Bharath, 61,903 individual toilets had

been constructed so far. Through bank linkage, Rs 16.32 crores had been sanctioned to Self-Help Groups in the district.

Through the State government's prestigious scheme Mission Bhagiratha, tap connections were given to 654 out of the target of 671 house in towns, villages, tandas, Adivasi Gudem, town out skirts in the district.

During the second phase of Mission Kakatiya, it was targeted to restore 120 tanks with an estimation cost of Rs 48.94 crores and works of 114 tanks were completed. In the third phase, out of the restoration of 63 tanks with an estimation cost of Rs 20,05 crores, 41 works have been completed. For the fourth phase, Rs 43.15 crores have been sanctioned to restore 132 tanks and the works of 100 tanks are under progress and 15 tanks successfully restored in Nirmal district, the Minister explained.

District Collector M Prashanthi, Superintendent of Police C Shashidhar Raju, officials, students and others were present on the occasion.