By NNN-PTI,
Hydrabad, India : The UPA government is striving for inclusive growth, caring for the welfare of poorer sections of the society, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said here..
“We believe in growth. Growth is important. But we equally believe in inclusive growth. A growth process must take all the poor people along,” he said.
The UPA government launched various schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (NREGS), the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the farmers’ loan waiver scheme to help the poor, he said.
Chidambaram asked why the previous NDA government at the Centre and the TDP government in Andhra Pradesh state did not introduce programmes like the NREGS, JNNURM and loan waiver.
The Finance Minister was addressing a function where the ‘Rajiv Arogya Sri’ health insurance scheme of the Andhra Pradesh government was launched for Hyderabad district by Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
The state has been given over Rs 9,000 crore in recent years for various programmes, a major allocation, and more funds would be sanctioned if need be, he said.(One Crore:ten million)
Reddy obtained more funds from the Centre by constantly pursuing the issue with the Centre and he deserved praise for his efforts, the Finance Minister said.
Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said the estimated cost of Hyderabad Metro rail project has been enhanced from Rs 9,696 crore to Rs 11,814 crore out of which the Centre would give Rs 2,362 crore as grant.