Amaravati, Aug 4 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday sought cooperation of all to achieve a 15 per cent growth rate for a “healthy, wealthy and happy” Andhra Pradesh.
Releasing a white paper on finance and giving details of the progress report and financial situation of Andhra Pradesh during 2024–2026 to media persons at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister stated that it is the duty of the government to explain to people the progress of the state.
He said that the NDA government is committed to the development of all regions, focusing on decentralisation of growth while simultaneously implementing welfare schemes through wealth creation.
Citing the overwhelming response from people during the inauguration of Bhogapuram Airport recently, the Chief Minister said the airport will serve as a growth corridor for the North Andhra region. He added that the positive public response reflects the results of good governance.
The Chief Minister said that after state bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh achieved GSDP growth of 13.5 per cent during 2014–2019. As the GSDP growth rate came down to 10.3 per cent during 2019–24, it resulted in a GSDP loss of Rs 6.94 lakh crore. If the same growth rate of 13.5 per cent had continued, Andhra Pradesh would have gained additional revenue of Rs 76,195 crore, he added.
He further stated that the per capita income gap widened from Rs 55,817 crore during 2019 to Rs 1,06,854 crore during 2023–24.
The Chief Minister said that public debt to GSDP registered a steep increase and stood at 33.83 per cent during 2019–24. He noted that it further increased by 2.37 percentage points due to the huge burden of committed expenditure by the previous regime.
He alleged that the previous government stalled Amaravati capital works, delayed Polavaram leading to diaphragm wall collapse, and caused setbacks to investments with worsening law and order. Bad governance, he said, led to inherited debt and liabilities to the tune of Rs 9.74 lakh crore, pushing the state into a debt trap.
The Chief Minister said that the NDA government adopted a multi-pronged strategy for revival of the debt-ridden state by focusing on clearing pending liabilities, ensuring welfare, fulfilling promises and encouraging development and investments along with good governance.
The government presented the 2026–27 budget focusing on balanced regional development through special initiatives for three economic regions – Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Tirupati.
The Chief Minister said that the state government revived 86 centrally sponsored schemes by clearing pending dues of Rs 8,695 crore and secured Rs 29,890 crore in central funds since June 2024.
He said the state government spent Rs 1.49 lakh crore to fulfil welfare promises during the last two years, created 30,607 government jobs, filled 15,941 teacher posts through mega DSC and 5,757 constable posts.
Stating that the state government is committed to family empowerment and reducing economic inequalities, the Chief Minister said assistance of Rs 19,100 crore was provided to 43 lakh SC beneficiaries and Rs 5,730 crore to 9 lakh ST beneficiaries.
In addition, Rs 32,534 crore in assistance was provided to 118 lakh BC beneficiaries, while under minority welfare, Rs 4,856 crore was spent towards 17 lakh beneficiaries.
He said a target was set to enable 5 lakh women of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to become entrepreneurs through branding and market linkages to SHG products during 2026–27. The SHG products are being launched under an umbrella brand ‘Swayam-AP’. Andhra Pradesh stood first in the country with the highest number of bank loans availed by rural SHG women, becoming a role model with complete digitalisation of the SHG loaning process.
The Chief Minister announced that Phase-I of Amaravati capital development will be completed by 2028 and the Polavaram project will be dedicated to the nation during March 2027. He said an integrated horticulture development plan will be implemented with Rs 1 lakh crore investment in the Rayalaseema region to develop it as an international horticultural hub.
–IANS
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