CM’s Independence Day speech at Golconda Fort

​My Independence Day greetings to the people of Telangana State. In this context, I salute to the sacrificial souls who fought for the freedom of the nation and helped us to breath the air of freedom. We have followed the inspirational path of the freedom movement adhering to non-violence and peaceful path and achieved the Telangana State. I am happy that the State is progressing on the path that we have selected as the aim. At this historical Golconda Fort, three years ago we have hoisted out national flag and paved way for the State’s progress. We are marching ahead in the light shed by the programmes we have envisaged then and marching successfully. Normally, the states, which are formed new, will not be settled down in a short time. But our state has overcome all the obstacles quite effectively. With 21.7 percent economic growth in 2016-2017, the State stood number one in the country. This is a moment of pride for us and an auspicious indicator of the state’s progress. This is possible due to transparent measures and fiscal discipline of the state government. The state government has heralded new programmes for the welfare and development of people and state respectively. The programmes we are implementing have won appreciation all over the country. They have become role models for other states. This development is possible due to overwhelming support from people, commitment and dedication of the administration with perfect coordination. The governance is moving forward based on the two wheels of development and welfare. The government has given a go by to the concept of having financial returns as the objective. The government has made plans with loft goals like social justice and equality. The government is successfully implementing several welfare programmes. In Telangana state 90 percent population are SC/ST/BC and Minorities. The government is working with commitment to eradicate poverty from these sections. The government is spending a Lion’s share in the Budget for the welfare sector to offer security of life to the people.

To give a minimum social security to the poor, the government is offering ASARA pensions to lakhs of people. The pension is given to old age people, physically challenged, Beedi workers, widows, handloom weavers and toddy tappers as well as to single women who are also included in recent past. The cash incentive given under Shaadi Mubarak/Kalyan Laxmi schemes has been increased Rs 75,000. Since the government is bearing costs of the marriage of the girl, parents are heaving a sigh of relief.

In the power sector, the Telangana state government has performed miracles with revolutionary progress. Power is supplied uninterruptedly without resorting to even a minute power cut. This scenario is expediting the development in the state. Farm sector is given nine-hour uninterrupted power supply during the day. Recently, on an experimental basis 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to the farm sector is given in the erstwhile Medak, Nalgonda and Karimnagar districts. Serious efforts are put in to give 24-hour free power supply to the farm sector from the next summer. The government has liberated farmers from the perils of power shortage, which they have experienced for decades together. This development has kindled a new hope and aspirations among the farming community. There is an increase in the industrial outputgrowth due to uninterrupted and quality supply of power. Industrial labour are getting additional work as the industries are working three shifts in a day. New power plants are being set up to increase substantially the captive generation in the state. In the days to come, the Telangana State will become power surplus state.

Mission Bhagiratha is a wonderful unique programme to quench the thirst of the people. Rural Drinking Water Scheme officials are working day and night to make the programme to meet its goal. There is every possibility that every village get a quality and purified drinking water by this December. With this, one of our important aims will be achieved. Works for putting in place the internal drinking water pipeline networks in the villages, taps, construction of water tanks etc. are going on.

As part of the government’s KG to PG programmes, residential schools are started in a big way. In the last 58-year history under the united AP, only 259 residential schools were established with meagre infrastructure and other facilities. Whereas in these three years, for SC/ST/BC and minorities 522 residential schools on par with the Corporate schools and even better than them, were established. In these schools, the medium of instruction is English imparting the education with international standards. The students are given a healthy and nutritious food, books, clothes and toys free of cost for their overall development. For this, the government is spending Rs 1.25 lakh per year per student.

The government has increased salaries of the lower cadre employees who were working on meagre salaries. While the government feel that outsourcing and contract employees should not be subjected to exploitation, certain negative elements are trying to put obstacles due to their narrow mindedness. Yet the government with firm resolve went ahead and increased their salaries.

The double bed room scheme aimed at instilling self-respect among the poor has picked up. The government has improved the quality of health care and facilities for the poor in the government hospitals. I would like to remind here that recently Governor ESL Narasimhan has visited the Gandhi Hospital and spoke highly of the medical facilities and hygienic conditions there.

The government has introduced an excellent scheme known as “KCR Kits” for the benefit of pregnant women. It is painful that pregnant women often go to work for their survival and for living. This will often prove fatal for both the mother and child. The government has taken a humanitarian view on this and introduced KCR Kits programme. Since the government feels that pregnant women should not go to work, the loss is borne by the government and they are given Rs 12,000 in three equal instalmentsof Rs 4, 000 per person. An additional Rs 1000 is given to the woman if the new born happens to be a girl child. The Kit is equipped with 16 items required by both the mother and child. 42,000 beneficiaries have received the Kits within two and half months of its introduction. With KCR kits, the number of institutional deliveries that took place in the government hospitals has been increased substantially.

Haritha Haram programme aimed at turning the state into a green cover is being implemented successfully with the support from the people. By strengthening the police set up, there is a better law and order situation and there is also a decrease in the crime rate. The menace of playing cards and illicit liquor is almost eradicated. We are proving alternative employment to the illicit liquor makers and suppliers. The SHE teams are doing a wonderful job in reducing the harassment of women. On public’s demand, we have decided to increase number of SHE teams in the districts also. SHE teams are also formed in the other states following our example. The government is having an uncompromised stand against social evils like drug abuse to nip it in the bud.

The Telangana government has taken an adventurist step and created 21 new districts for the administrative convenience. Along with this, 25 new divisions and 125 Mandals are also formed. With this the administrative convenience increased. Governance has reached the doorsteps of people. Constructions of new Collector office complexes and Police administrative buildings are taking place in the new districts.

Mahatma Gandhi used to reiterate that villages are backbone of the country and propounded Gram Swaraj concept. The rural Indian economy network, which was self, reliant and self-reliant had broken up for various reasons. The indiscrimination and injustices meted out to the Telangana region under the United AP rule had destroyed the rural economy. The rural life was forced into a crisis due to life destructive policies of the then government in the Telangana region. The Telangana people known for their hard work and professional skills are forced to migrate to far off countries seeking livelihood. The Telangana state government has resolved to rebuild the rural economy and to help the fallen lives. The government is implementing Mission Kakatiya Programme to revive and rejuvenate the lifeline of the Telangana the chain of tanks. Of the 46,500 tanks, so far, 20,000 tanks are revived. In the coming days, all the tanks in the state will be revived.The state has witnessed a bumper crops this year, first time in the history due to increase in the capacity of water in tanks and better power supply. The Telangana state has re-written a new history by getting 96 Lakh metric Tonnes of paddy. This is a proof that if the government supports farmers they can produce gold from cultivation.

The state government is constructing irrigation projects in a big way to utilise our share of water in the rivers. The government is giving utmost priority for the irrigation sector by allocating Rs 25,000 Crore per year in the Budget to create water facility for one crore acres in the State. The works on Kaleshwaram, Palamoor Sitarama Lift Irrigation schemes are going on a fast track. Recently, the government has initiated works to revive the Sri Ram Sagar Project. SRSP is only project in Telangana constructed under the united AP owing demand from the people. Due to the sheer neglect and discrimination, canals under the project were destroyed. Finally, SRSP turned out to be a project without any purpose. We had a ground-breaking ceremony recently to revive the SRSP and come to the rescue of farmers under its ayacut. We are getting water from Godavari from Kaleshwaram through the flood flow canal to SRSP reservoir and reviving it. There is an all-round applause from people since we are reviving the project with minimum costs, minimum time and less submergence. With the completion of this project the problems faced by farmers in Telangana will be solved forever, permanently.

To alleviate other problems sand issues of farmers the government is bringing in comprehensive reforms in the agriculture sector. The government soon after assuming the office has waived Rs 17,000 crore farm loans as promised in the election manifesto. In the past, farmers faced lot of hardships in obtaining quality seeds and fertiliser on time. Our government is supplying seeds and fertilisers on time since its formation. We have made changes in the existing Acts to punish those indulging in sale of spurious seeds and fertilisers. Godowns are constructed in a big way to help farmers store their crops. In the past, there were only 4 lakh tonnes capacity of godowns, which are, now increased to 22.5 Lakh tonnes capacity. This is one example of the government’s achievements.

The government is coming out with an ideal and innovative scheme for the farmers to remove their difficulties. The government has decided that farmer should not go for a loan for his input costs. Incase of a crop failure, farmer is subjected to suffering due to loss of crops and the pressure of loans. Farmers often end in debt trap unable to pay back the loan. To overcome this problem, the government has decided to offer financial assistance for their agriculture inputs. From the next year onwards, the government will give Rs 8000 per acre to farmers in year for two crops. This investment scheme of the government has attracted attention of the entire nation and has become a model to emulate.

The government is taking the responsibility of forming the farmers associations, federation to unify farmers and enable them to work for their welfare. The state government is also creating a new history by undertaking comprehensive land survey in the state. The land survey was done way back in 1936 under the then Nizam and so far, no other survey ever conducted. After a gap of 81 years, the government is now conducting the survey. The farmers should take up the responsibility to make this survey successful in the coming months.Every famer should become a leader of his village. On this solemn occasion of the Independence Day, I call upon the farmers to come out voluntarily to make the survey a great success and not play the role of silent spectator thinking that it is not their job. After the survey, the land records will be rectified. Farmers will be given new passbooks. Farmers need not run around the government offices months together for solutions to their land issues. The survey is done to implement transparent and corrupt free policies of the government.

The state will create crops colonies to ensure better price for the farmers’ crops. With this, farmers will not incur losses by going in for the same crop. There will not be any marketing problem for their produce. The farmers should work with commitment under the new policy, which is first of its kind in the country and is aimed at making the agriculture profit-making sector. Farmers should take this opportunity.

The government is of the firm view that the hereditary skills and professions handed over from generation to generation are a great human resource. Due to the narrow attitude of the erstwhile rulers till now these hereditary professions did not get any help or cooperation from the government. It was failure in the past as it was felt that, human resource means working before computer or in an industry in urban areas. Contrary to this, the government is taking a new view in identifying the human resources in rural areas.

People from Shepherd (Golla) Kuruma communities who have skill for generations to rear sheep are in large numbers in the State. To distribute sheep among these people, the government is spending Rs 5000 Crore. Under the scheme each shepherd is given 20 Sheep and one ram as one unit. The government has estimated that it will get 4 lakh applications under the scheme where as it got 7 Lakh. As against the target of distributing 1.47 Crore sheep, for which the process is on, as of now 12 Lakh sheep are distributed to 57,000 families. Under this scheme, besides making Shepard and Kuruma families economically sound, the state can have enough meat for its own consumption and organic fertiliser. Very soon, the state will become meat export state also.

The government is encouraging fish culture at all the water bodies in the state. Under the united AP rule, all the fish growing centres were destroyed. Now the government is starting new fish growing centres. The fisheries policy is designed in such way that there is no role for any middlemen. All measures are taken to make fish culture an industry and better markets are created.

The government is implementing a comprehensive handloom and power loom policy to help the weavers and workers. For the handloom weavers besides yarn, 50 percent subsidy is given for the chemicals. The government will be buying the cloth from the weavers. The government has taken measures to modernize the power looms to increase their production. The government made the managements to provide a minimum of Rs 15,000 per month as salary to the power loom worker. The government has decided to procure all the cloth its requires from the handloom and power loom societies only. The government will give financial assistance to those who want to shift their profession. By the next Bathukamma festival for 93 Lakh women white ration cardholders will be given a saree as a festival gift. On every festival, the government will distribute free clothing to the poor above caste, creed and community. Clothing for this purpose will be procured from the handloom and power loom societies. On the other hand, a big textiles park in Warangal and apparel park will be launched in the coming days.

The government is introducing a scheme forNaayi Brahmins to start modern hair cutting saloons in rural areas and they are given Rs one lakh assistance per person. Besides the welfare of Naayi Brahmins, this scheme will also create hygienic conditions. The Rajak brethren are still following old techniques while washing clothes. The government is making efforts to provide them with new washing machines. This scheme will help them to modernize their profession and stand firm in the society.

The government has set up Corporation for the Most Backward Classes to help the nomadic tribes and the beggars with Rs 1000 Crore fund. Schemes for the welfare them are being planned. The government is also making schemes for the goldsmiths, toddy tappers, potters’, and people in other similar trades.

While strengthening the rural economy, on the other side, the government is also focusing on the industrial growth. Industrialists all over the Globe were attracted towards the state government’s TS IPASS industrial policy. The state stood first in ease-of-Doing Business. Internationally reputed Industrial houses are setting up their business in Hyderabad. So far, with Rs 1,01,722 croresof investment has come to the state. 4,118 new industries were given industrial clearances and licenses providing employment to 2.90 lakh people. All over the world people are appreciating our industrial policy. TS IPASS became a guide to other states.

All of us should feel happy that the State is going to be a venue for the world Industrialists Forum which will take place in Hyderabad from November 28 to November 30. For this conference, Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi, US President Donald trump’s daughter and US Government Advisor Ms Ivanka Trump are participating. This conference will provide industrialists all over the world to exchange their views, offer help to the aspiring entrepreneurs. The government is making all efforts to make this conference a grand success so that the name and fame of Telangana will spread all over.

During the Telangana statehood movement, we thought that we would be able to provide a lakh of jobs for the unemployed in the state. On this happy and auspicious occasion of the Independence Day I would like to give good news to the unemployed youth. I am happy to announce that besides 27,660 appointments so far, we made, measures are being taken to make appointments for another 84,876 jobs shortly. With this, 1, 12,536 posts have been created which are over and above the one lakh figure that has been promised. The government has issued instructions to start the process of the recruitment of jobs to fill the vacancies that are required for next year also.

With the blessings from the people, we are marching ahead despite obstacles created by the adverse elements. Let me make it abundantly clear to such elements that they cannot divert my attention and come in the way of my firm resolve for the overall development of people in Telangana state, with their evil actions. The Telangana state government will march forward for the wellbeing of the working class and for the overall welfare of the people. The unflinching support from the people is our strength. It is increasing our commitment and resolve. I thank all those who are joining together with us to realise the dream of Bangaru Telangana in which all the fruits of development will reach the last mile to everyone. I once again convey my Independence Day greetings to the people and conclude.

Jai Hind!
Jai Telangana!
Jai, Jai Telangana!