AP to be a model state in 2012, hopes CM

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy in his New Year message said that the State will prosper and its economic activity will turn robust and the State will be shaped into a model one.

“The New Year should see us reviewing and reorienting our policies and strategies to successfully overcome these temporary hurdles. The economy grew at an annual average growth of 11.8 per cent in the period 2004-08, which was higher than the national average. During 2010-11 , it grew at 9.22 percent against the national average of 8.55 percent,” he said.

“It is our firm belief that fiscal prudence is the key to sustain economic development. Andhra Prdesh is one of the first few States to have eliminated deficit on the revenue account and containing the fiscal deficit within the limits set by the fiscal responsibility legislation. Even in the recent years which have witnessed a slow down in economic growth, we have maintained a healthy revenue surplus despite severe demands on the limited resources of the state and without compromising on the developmental projects of the State. We will continue to maintain fiscal prudence while maintaining the pace of developmental activities even though it is a tight-rope walk, “ he said in a statement here.

“The recent past has been a turbulent period, with farmers having to face natural calamities successively for three consecutive years from 2009 onwards. These disasters have been accompanied by stagnation in yields, crop failures and non-remunerative prices. A crop holiday was declared in parts of two districts. An expert committee was appointed to examine the issues.  We   are implementing the committee’s recommendations, he said.

The State is determined to complete Jalyagnam, the ambitious multi-dimensional irrigation programmed, encompasses completion of 86 major and minor irrigation projects, as well as modernization of 8 existing projects.

He also talked about free power, facilities being provided to farm sector, increasing employment opportunities, strengthening of SHGs and government initiatives in the letter.