Prakasam, the most backward district in India: Sujana

Ongole: The Prakasam district is the most backward district in the country, declared the Union Minister of State Yalamanchili Sujana Chowdary. He attended the Sankalp se Siddhi programme at Ongole on Monday to explain the vision document of How India should be by 2022. He emphasised that only a vision with action can change the world and the combination of visionaries like Narendra Modi as Prime Minister and Chandrababu Naidu as Chief Minister will transform the country and state into developed places.

Speaking at the programme, Chowdary said, “The problems of rural India are more critical than any other problems. We should provide houses for all, wellness and health and reduce maternal and infant mortality rate and malnutrition cases by 2022 in the rural area. As the Census say that 65 per cent of the population of India by 2022 is below 30 years, we should make sure that urban facilities provided in the rural area along with the education and medical facilities.

When we listed the most backward 100 districts in the country, Prakasam district is in the top position of it. We have a vision to provide rural economic development and create an alternate income source for every farmer. The last man in the lower line of the development should get the benefits. With this, by 2022, we should achieve Swachh Bharat, in which every village is connected by road, the farmers get quality electricity and economic development of rural people.

The public should know that Saraswati is the route to Lakshmi and see their children gets education with values because they are the future of India.”Collector Vadarevu Vinay Chand explained that everyone should take the oath of Sankalp se Siddhi to remember the 75 years of Quit India movement by August 9 and take inspiration from the spirit of freedom fighters.

He said, “With the call from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we should prepare action plans for the complete development of villages, mandals and districts in the coming five years. To fight the drought and conditions against agriculture in the district, we should take up more farm ponds, check dams and other water conservation programs under Neeru Pragati scheme.

The pending Gundlakamma Reservoir project and Korisapadu Lift Irrigation scheme were complete and due for inauguration by the Chief Minister. We have setup a target of 22,000 hectares cultivation under micro irrigation programme in the district and are supplying micro nutrients to the farmers depending on the soil.

We have also provided administrative sanctions for laying of 750km concrete roads in villages and prepared plans for providing drains, Aanganwadi centers, play grounds, LED street lights in all villages while the Rs 100 crore plans to make Ongole as a smart city are underway. We are to provide employment opportunities to youth at Donakonda Industrial Hub and developing the Singarayakonda and Ulavapadu as tourist attractions.”

The Zilla Parishad Chairman Edara Haribabu, MLCs Karanam Balarama Krishnamurthy, Pothula Suneetha, MLAs Dola Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, Pothula Ramarao and other public representatives and officials participated and shared their ideas of developing the rural areas after taking the oath of Sankalp se Siddhi.