Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, 1 September declared that the coalition government's foremost goal is the economic empowerment of the poor, reaffirming the administration's commitment to welfare, development, and good governance. He made the remarks while participating in the distribution of NTR Bharosa pensions at Mogalthur in West Godavari district.

Pension Disbursements and Welfare Spending

Naidu stated that enhanced pensions were being extended to senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sections of society. According to the Chief Minister, the government has distributed ₹73,507 crore to the poor through pension schemes so far, while total welfare programme expenditure over the past two years has crossed ₹1.50 lakh crore.

The event also carried personal significance for Naidu: 31 years ago, on 1 September, he was first sworn in as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh. He recalled that his tenure since then had been marked by governance reforms and efforts to promote public participation.

Women's Empowerment and DWCRA Entrepreneurs

Naidu highlighted the role of DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) self-help groups as the bedrock of women's economic empowerment in the state. He said the Deepam scheme was introduced to ease cooking fuel access for women, and under Deepam-2.0, three free LPG cylinders are being provided annually. The government has also instituted 33 per cent reservation for women across sectors to ensure their leadership role.

Notably, last year 1 lakh DWCRA women graduated into MSME entrepreneurs, and the government has set a higher target for the current year. Products made by DWCRA women will be marketed under the 'Swayam' brand, Naidu said.

Social Justice and Marginalised Communities

The Chief Minister acknowledged that Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and minorities continue to face economic and social backwardness. He said the government was actively working to uplift these communities, including providing reservations for Vadderas in mining and for toddy tappers in liquor shops. The long-pending issue of SC categorisation had also been implemented, he added.

Students from tribal areas are being trained and placed in competitive examinations and higher education institutions, including IITs and IIMs.

Rural Development, Water Projects, and Investments

Naidu stressed that strong local bodies are essential for rural development, calling on ward members, sarpanches, MLAs, and MPs to become active partners in governance. He alleged that attempts were being made to prevent local body elections and obstruct the state's development.

On water infrastructure, Naidu said Krishna waters had been brought to drought-prone areas through the Veligonda Project, and efforts were underway to divert Godavari water to North Andhra via the left canal — with the waters expected to reach Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam next year and subsequently the Vamsadhara region. He added that the interlinking of rivers remained a long-term objective to address the country's water challenges.

Criticising previous administrations for driving industries out of the state, Naidu said the current government was actively attracting large-scale investments into Andhra Pradesh. He also announced plans to make government services available online to the state's 1.60 crore families and to install solar panels under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.

NDA Alliance and Political Confidence

Naidu asserted that the NDA alliance would remain 'unbeatable' in any future state elections, projecting political confidence ahead of local body polls. Ministers Nimmala Ramanaidu and Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Deputy Speaker Raghurama Krishnam Raju, Union Minister Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Whip Bolisetti Srinivas, and other leaders were present at the event.

With welfare spending at record levels and new schemes targeting women, tribals, and marginalised communities, the Naidu administration is positioning economic inclusion as its defining electoral and governance narrative heading into the next phase.