Naidu says Andhra Pradesh has spent ₹76,000 crore on pensions

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday that his government had spent ₹76,000 crore on pensions, as he took part in a monthly distribution programme in Repalle. Naidu addressed a public meeting in Bapatla district during the NTR Bharosa pensions programme, held as part of an initiative described as “service to the poor”.

He said he had participated in the pension programme on the first day of each month for the past 28 months. The Chief Minister said the government was pursuing development while providing economic security to poorer residents. He said its approach to poverty was humanitarian as well as economic, and that welfare and development were being implemented simultaneously.

Naidu said works worth ₹50,000 crore were being undertaken in urban areas and ₹11,000 crore in rural areas. He said 5.5 lakh houses had been completed, with another 5.5 lakh planned, while housing-site pattas worth ₹52,000 crore had been distributed. He also referred to welfare schemes for women, students, fishermen and auto-rickshaw drivers.

According to Naidu, one lakh women linked to the DWCRA programme had become entrepreneurs, and the government aimed to support another five lakh women. On investment, he said the state had secured commitments worth ₹22 lakh crore that were expected to generate 20 lakh jobs. He said the government was increasing capital expenditure and developing roads, railways, ports and airports.

Naidu further mentioned irrigation projects, tourism plans for Surya Lanka beach and a proposal to complete 36 projects at a cost of ₹35,000 crore over the next three years. The supplied material presents these figures as statements by the Chief Minister and provides no independent assessment of them.