Free Bus Rides For Women In Andra Pradesh
This free bus travel plan is one of the TDP’s “Super Six” promises they made before the 2024 elections.
The government has already started some of these promises, like giving more money for social security, providing three free cooking gas cylinders each year, and reopening the Anna Canteens (community kitchens). However, they still need to start the other three promises: free bus rides for women, “Thalliki Vandanam” (money for mothers with kids in school), and “Annadata Sukhibhava” (money for farmers).
People were grumbling that the government was taking too long to start its big “Super Six” promises. But then, on Saturday, when Mr. Naidu was in Kurnool for an event called “Swarna Andhra – Swachch Andhra,” he announced the free bus travel plan.
During his visit, Mr. Naidu checked out the farmers’ market at C-Camp. He also started the work for a new park called “Swarna Andhra – Swachcha Andhra”.
Talking to a group of people, Mr. Naidu mentioned all the programs his government has already launched and the new ones coming soon. He said, “We’ll soon start the free bus travel for women. We’re even thinking of starting it on Independence Day.”
He said the government really wants to do two things: help people with welfare programs and also bring in lots of new businesses.
“We are giving out help to the people who need it,” he explained, “and at the same time, we’re getting huge amounts of money invested in our state. So far, we’ve brought 76 big projects here. All together, these projects will bring in a massive ₹4.96 lakh crore and create 4.51 lakh jobs for people.”
The Chief Minister also shared that they’ll fill teacher jobs before school starts again. He also promised that mothers who send their children to school will get ₹15,000 in their accounts through the ‘Thalliki Vandanam’ program, and that will happen before the academic year kicks off.
He also said that the government will make sure farmers get good prices for their crops and will give them financial help this year through a program called ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’.
Mr. Naidu stressed that developing the Rayalaseema region is his duty. He said this area will become a hub for growing fruits and vegetables (horticulture). Right now, about 18 lakh hectares in Rayalaseema are used for horticulture, and he plans to double that to 36 lakh hectares in the next five years. He added, “During our TDP government from 2014-2019, we helped 16 lakh acres get drip irrigation, but the previous government didn’t bother with it.”
Mr. Naidu said they’ll build a “Drone City” in a place called Orvakal. He also believes that finishing the Polavaram-Banakacherla water project will be a huge improvement for the Rayalaseema area.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that he was the one who started farmers’ markets (called ‘rythu bazaars’) way back in 1998. He did this so farmers could sell their goods for a good price, and shoppers could buy fresh vegetables cheaply.
Mr. Naidu said that government buses are now used to carry farmers’ produce. He explained this helps get rid of the problem with middlemen, who often take a big cut. He also added that the number of farmers’ markets (rythu bazaars) will be increased from the current 125. He remembered that mobile farmers’ markets also worked well in the past.
Industries Minister T.G. Bharath, who was with the Chief Minister, said that Mr. Naidu promised to give ₹6 crore to make the farmers’ market at C-Camp bigger.
Mr. Bharath also mentioned, “The Chief Minister told the officials to finish this work within a year. He also asked them to open an Anna Canteen (a community kitchen) here.”