'Racha Banda' revival soon

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday reviewed the 100-day programme to see that the welfare measures reached the poor people in rural areas.

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy is also believed to have directed the Sub-Committee that the dates for organising the Racha Banda programme should be announced on Wednesday. He also issued instructions to the Sub-Committee and officials concerned to see that the poor people who are eligible will be covered by the programme.

The Chief Minister’s instructions came at a review meeting with the Cabinet Sub-Committee which met at the Secretariat on Monday under the supervision of Minister for Housing Kanna Laxminarayana.

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy issued instructions to the Sub-Committee that a special drive should be taken up to implement the schemes under the 100-programme.

The meeting discussed an agenda of developmental activities to be taken up under the 100-day programme and their implementation in the state.

Minister for Civil Supplies Duddilla Sridhar Babu and Major and Medium Irrigation Minister P Sudharshan Reddy led by Kanna Laxminarayana later told media persons that after their discussions that it was decided that the Racha Banda programme would be revived soon to realise the problems of the poor on the spot.

It may be mentioned here that former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had envisaged and announced the ‘Racha Banda’ programme and was on his way to launch it when the unfortunate helicopter crash claimed his life on September 2, 2008. The programme had been put on hold since the tragic event.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is expected to give a nod to this programme shortly.

As part of the 100-day programme, the sub-committee has decided to take up irrigation of 3 lakh acres of SC/ST lands, construction of 2 lakh houses for the underprivileged classes, setting up of 5 major industries and generation of 700mw of power to step up power production in the state were some of the items that came up for discussion by the Sub-Committee, the Minister said.