Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu voices concern over malnutrition, untouchability

Rich and affluent sections of the society remained well-off because of their "genetics", he remarked talking on the issue of social indicators at the three-day leadership training programme for the Telugu Desam MPs, legislators and other elected representatives at the K L University.

Amaravati, Oct 5:  Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said untouchability still “prevailed” in the state and the condition of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes remained “largely unchanged”. Rich and affluent sections of the society remained well-off because of their “genetics”, he remarked talking on the issue of social indicators at the three-day leadership training programme for the Telugu Desam MPs, legislators and other elected representatives at the K L University at Vaddeswaram in the capital region.

“Malnutrition is rampant in SCs and STs and thus they are prone to diseases. There is wealth in the forests but the tribals inhabiting there are unable to derive benefit out of it. Hence, they continue to remain backward,” Naidu said. “Social indicators give us a view on the social conditions of various sections of the society. Our government is focusing on 42 social indicators to improve the lot of the deprived sections,” the Chief Minister said. Disputes over land was the main reason why industries were not coming up in India, he claimed.

“This has become a big problem. There are land disputes everywhere because of which industries are not coming up,” he said, when MLC Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy pointed out that SEZ promoters in SPS Nellore district jacked up land prices. “The overheads have become very high in the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation which eventually made cost of land prohibitive,” the Chief Minister noted. Somireddy gave examples of proposed Kisan SEZ in 2,300 acres of land and the Krishnapatnam SEZ in 4,700 acres. ALSO READ: Andhra Pradesh: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu declares ‘war’ against contagious diseases 

“IFFCO did not set up its fertiliser plant after the proposal was first mooted in the early 1990s. While land for the plant was acquired for just a few thousand rupees an acre, the SEZ CEO was now demanding Rs 60 lakh per acre. This was driving prospective industrialists away. Same is the case with Krishnapatnam SEZ,” Somireddy added. Chandrababu concurred with the legislator’s view and lamented there were several disputes over land that hindered establishment of industries.