Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

water mission called ‘Jalayagnam,’ which envisages bringing one crore acres
of parched lands in backward areas under cultivation. In the next few months,
we will achieve at least 30% of this ambitious target.
Similarly, effective implementation of the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme and our own innovative ‘Pavala Vaddi’ program i.e.
loans at 3% interest to Self-Help Groups have helped mitigate the sufferings
of the rural poor.
Equitable development implies poverty alleviation, industrialization and
so forth. But, we believe that equitable development should reflect in improved
living standards of people across the State, even in remote rural areas.
Hence we launched the Indiramma (Integrated Development of Rural Areas
and Model Municipal Areas) program.
The program is intended to create infrastructure, including roads, lights,
buildings for schools as well as hospitals and sanitation facilities; grant pension
to the needy; and build houses for the homeless. The housing component
of the program, with a target of 80 lakh units, is central, considering that will
give a sense of confidence and social security to the homeless.
Another dimension of equitable development is creation or upgrading of
medical facilities that will enable even the poorest of poor to live with dignity,
considering that medical treatment has become prohibitive even for well-to-do
circles. Here, we have come up with a novel health insurance scheme,
‘Arogyasri’, for the benefit of the poor. Even Mahatma Gandhi used to dream
of a Bharat in which we can wipe out every drop of tears in the eyes of the
poorest.
We fully endorse Nehruji’s observation at the first NIC meeting in 1962
that education plays a vital role in national integration. Reflecting our commitment
to his vision, we have introduced CBSE syllabus in 6,500 high
schools, mainly in rural areas, with English also as the medium of instruction.
This will ensure that the curriculum designed by the National Council for
Educational Research and Training with a national perspective will be carried
to students across Andhra Pradesh. We have introduced computer education
on a large scale.
Students from the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes are
given pre-Matric and post-Matric scholarships and are provided hostel
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