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K.R. Deepak

The UPA Chairperson, Ms Sonia Gandhi, is presented a plough by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, at a public meeting at Jaggampeta near Rajahmundry. —

Our Bureau

Kakinada, March 14 The United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre, and the Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh, are ever-conscious of the welfare of the farmers and the Rs 60,000-crore debt waiver proposed in the Budget presented recently in Parliament proves the point, according to Ms Sonia Gandhi, President of the Congress party and Chairperson of UPA.

She was speaking at a public meeting at Jaggampeta in East Godavari district on Friday after inaugurating the Pushkar lift irrigation scheme on the Godavari, meant to irrigate 1.8 lakh acres in the uplands of the district. She also inaugurated a life insurance scheme for the families of the agricultural workers, christened Aam Admi Jeevita Bhima Scheme.

Characterising the farmer as an ‘annadata’ (food-provider), she said that the Government was only repaying a debt, that society owed to the farmer, by introducing the loan waiver. “The scheme will bring great relief to the farmers and for those who are not covered by the scheme, the State Government of AP will introduce a new scheme,” she said, taking the cue from the Chief Minister, who had spoken before her. But she did not go into the details of the proposed scheme; nor did the Chief Minister.

She criticised the NDA, and the Telugu Desam which lent support to it, “for doing nothing for the farmer during their tenure and criticising the UPA now. It is sheer hypocrisy.” She said the MSP for rice had gone up by Rs 190 per quintal during the UPA rule as against Rs 60 during the NDA-TDP rule.

Insurance scheme: She inaugurated the life insurance scheme for farm labour and gave away certificates to the beneficiaries. Under the scheme, the family of a farm worker will get Rs 35,000 in the event of natural death and Rs 70,000 in the event of accident or grave disability. For partial, or not-so-serious disability, the worker will get Rs 35,000. The premium is paid by the Government.

Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Chief Minister, and Mr M.M. Pallam Raju, Union Minister of State for Defence, also spoke. Later, Ms Sonia left for Warangal district to inaugurate another lift irrigation scheme on the Godavari.

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