CM Naidu vows every poor family will own a home by 2029; Ugadi to mark 5.9 lakh inaugurations

Rayachoti: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reaffirmed that the alliance government’s goal is to ensure every poor family owns a house by 2029. He announced that 5.90 lakh housewarming ceremonies will be held on the Ugadi festival next year.

The Chief Minister participated in the mass housewarming ceremony at Devagudipalle village in Chinnamandem mandal of Rayachoti constituency, Annamayya district on Wednesday and virtually inaugurated three lakh houses across the state from the venue.

Aiming for permanent homes for all

He personally handed over house keys to several beneficiaries and issued building permissions to those owning plots.

Speaking on the occasion, the CM said, “Yesterday we inaugurated an MSME park in Kanigiri, and today we are giving homes to the poor—it is a matter of great happiness. The alliance government is working to fulfil the dream of a home for every poor family. A house is not just four walls—it is dignity, happiness, safety and security for a family. In 1984, NTR laid the foundation for permanent housing in India. Though the previous government pushed the state into financial bankruptcy, we completed 3 lakh houses within 17 months of returning to power. Under PMAY-BLC, 2,28,034 houses; under PMAY-Gramin, 65,292; and under PMAY-Janman, 6,866 houses—making a total of 3,00,192 completed houses.”

‘8 lakh houses built in five years’

“Between 2014 and 2019, we completed 8 lakh houses for Rs 16,000 crore. The previous government destroyed the poor man’s dream of owning a home. It cancelled 4.73 lakh houses and kept Rs 900 crore unpaid to 2.73 lakh beneficiaries. The alliance government will clear these pending dues. The previous rulers crippled the housing sector. They allotted uninhabitable sites to the poor and left houses incomplete. They turned the housing scheme into a scam, indulged in corruption even in land levelling and looted crores even from sand,” he said.

Despite receiving funds from the Centre, they did not provide matching grants, halting development. This is a government for the poor, and we are working tirelessly to ensure justice for them.

In addition to Central funding, the State government is providing financial aid—Rs 2.5 lakh for urban houses and Rs 2 lakh for rural ones. Further, we are giving additional support—Rs 50,000 for SCs and BCs, Rs 75,000 for STs, and Rs 1,00,000 for PVTGs. From now on, Muslim families will also receive an additional Rs 50,000, the CM said.

Special welfare for minorities

“Around 6 lakh people could not complete their homes due to lack of funds—we will help them finish construction. This decision will benefit 3.73 lakh BCs, 1.57 lakh SCs, 46,000 STs, and 22,000 tribal families, at an additional cost of Rs 3,220 crore to the government. Along with housing construction, we will ensure all basic amenities—drinking water, electricity, drainage, roads, gas connections, solar power, and internet access,” CM Naidu said.

“We will help DWCRA women become entrepreneurs. Women’s thrift groups have taken Rs 50,000 crore in bank loans and are repaying them promptly, setting an example. We are enabling solar setups so that households can generate their own electricity. Once, crops grew in our fields—today, power is being generated there,” said CM Naidu.

He mentioned that farmers are being supported through the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, offering financial aid in three instalments.

Through the Mega DSC, 16,347 teachers have been recruited. During the previous YSRCP regime, jobs and investments disappeared, and industrialists fled the state. In 17 months, the alliance government has signed MoUs worth over Rs 10 lakh crore in investments.

Another Rs 10 lakh crore worth of MoUs will be signed at the upcoming Visakhapatnam CII Summit. We are committed to creating 20 lakh jobs, he promised.

Linking rivers to end drought

“River interlinking is my life’s mission. Once the Ganga–Cauvery linkage is achieved, drought will be history in India. I have never neglected irrigation projects. We will make Andhra Pradesh a drought-free state. We have already ensured sufficient drinking and irrigation water across all regions. The Venigallu Project is now filled. I am immediately sanctioning Rs 22 crore more to fill additional tanks,” the CM said.

The Srinivasapuram Reservoir will be completed next year, and Handri-Neeva water will be diverted to Chittoor from there. In the first phase, Nallamala Sagar will bring water to Velugonda. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support, we are advancing Andhra Pradesh in every sector. We are taking firm steps toward realising the Swarna Andhra Vision,” said CM Naidu.