CM Naidu sets 10-lakh housing target; pushes welfare, land reforms in Andhra

He said the government is prioritising welfare and empowerment for weaker sections, ensuring equal opportunities for SC, ST, BC, minority, and economically weaker communities through education, skill development, and employment initiatives. Highlighting the states long-term welfare vision, the CM said more than 11 lakh families have already been adopted under the poverty eradication P4 initiative, which combines educational support, economic assistance, employment opportunities, and improved living standards.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday directed officials to intensify efforts to provide housing for all, setting a target of building 10 lakh more houses by December 2027. Addressing the seventh District Collectors' Conference at the Secretariat, the CM said collective housewarming ceremonies under the welfare housing programme should be conducted for 2.5 lakh houses by August 15. ''Intensify efforts towards housing for all. By August 15, collective housewarming ceremonies should be conducted for 2.5 lakh houses, followed by another 2.38 lakh houses by December,'' Naidu said. According to the CM, nearly two lakh families are expected to require housing sites. He instructed officials to provide three cents of land in rural areas and two cents in urban areas wherever possible. He directed authorities to regularise houses constructed on government land and in hill regions, stating that any policy bottlenecks could be brought before the Cabinet for approval. Reviewing welfare departments, revenue administration, housing, and summer action plans, the CM instructed officials to ensure housing for all eligible beneficiaries through construction, land allocation, and regularisation measures. The CM stressed the need to resolve all pending land issues and complete the statewide resurvey process along with the issuance of pattadar passbooks (land documents) by 2027. Likewise, the TDP supremo instructed officials that the government must directly improve the quality of life of the poor, middle-class, and vulnerable sections through welfare delivery and social empowerment. Emphasising social justice and inclusive development, the CM said the state government would examine extending welfare benefits applicable to the Scheduled Castes to the Budaga Jangam community, pending approval from the Centre regarding SC inclusion demands. Naidu observed that a special commission has been constituted to study backwardness among BC communities and that appropriate reservations in local bodies would be implemented based on the commission's report. Further, he instructed officials to focus on livelihood generation through Rural Auto Nagar clusters across constituencies with significant minority populations, transforming them into livelihood and industrial hubs. Stressing the need to reduce the financial burden on people, the CM directed officials to work toward lowering expenditure on education, healthcare, and electricity. He said the government is prioritising welfare and empowerment for weaker sections, ensuring equal opportunities for SC, ST, BC, minority, and economically weaker communities through education, skill development, and employment initiatives. Highlighting the state's long-term welfare vision, the CM said more than 11 lakh families have already been adopted under the 'poverty eradication' P4 initiative, which combines educational support, economic assistance, employment opportunities, and improved living standards. Reviewing major welfare schemes, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure the timely transfer of subsidies under Deepam 2.0, which offers three free cooking gas cylinders per year, on fixed dates. He noted that Rs 3,504 crore has already been spent under the scheme, benefiting 1.08 crore beneficiaries. Under Stree Shakti, the free bus travel scheme for women, Naidu said over 60 crore free bus journeys have been recorded, with an annual expenditure of Rs 1,940 crore. Likewise, he said the Talliki Vandanam scheme, which offers Rs 15,000 per school-going child per annum, is benefiting 67 lakh people, with an allocation of nearly Rs 10,000 crore. Further, he said Rs 286 crore in financial assistance will be distributed under the Matsyakarula Sevalo programme on May 19 to fishermen. The CM alled for the establishment of Net Zero Healthy campuses in hostels with integrated kitchens, fruit gardens, and circular economy-based waste systems. He directed officials to provide advanced coaching for SC and tribal students to secure IIT ranks and instructed departments to facilitate low-interest education loans for students pursuing studies in premier national and international institutions. He also emphasised German language training for SC and ST youth to improve overseas employment opportunities. Focusing on tribal economic development, the CM said coffee, turmeric, and saffron cultivation are being promoted in tribal regions, with emphasis on value addition, natural farming, traceability, certification, and processing infrastructure. He urged officials to fully leverage the opportunity to position Araku Coffee as a global brand and integrate these initiatives with tourism development projects. Underscoring the broader purpose of governance, the CM stated that every review meeting, welfare initiative, and administrative exercise is ultimately aimed at improving people's lives and ensuring sustainable and inclusive development across Andhra Pradesh.