Welfare schemes to be made more efficient with tech: Chandrababu Naidu

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the government will introduce new technology for implementation of welfare schemes and to deliver benefits to the poorer sections at grass-root level more effectively.

Answering a question during the Question Hour in the Assembly on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the public distribution system was streamlined with the support of technology.

The fingerprints and iris recognition were implemented so far, he said and added that now face recognition system would also be introduced soon. He said that the government was giving pensions to more than 50 lakh beneficiaries and several welfare schemes were being implemented for the benefit of various sections.

Previously, pensions were released in the names of deceased persons also illegally, he pointed out. “Now the government is implementing welfare schemes without any corruption,” he reiterated and said that the next level of technology also would be utilised for the benefit of poorer sections.

The Chief Minister said that the bio-metric system was introduced in fair price shops. He asserted that the government would implement the welfare schemes and issue pensions without any lapses. He also said that his was the only government in the country paying pensions to a large number of people directly to their banks accounts.

Minister for Civil Supplies P Pulla Rao said that the government is giving utmost priority for successfully implementing the welfare schemes. The government would provide opportunity in various fields for kerosene dealers, he assured the members.

BJP floor leader P Vishnukumar Raju said that nearly 2,600 kerosene hawkers lost their livelihood due to the new policy of the State government.
He also said that the government should appoint them as employees in Chandranna malls or provide employment opportunities in contract jobs.