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hief Minister Chandrababu Naidu played an engineer when he met Director of Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), V V CM Plays Bosekar, in Pune. He surprised the host with his deep knowledge of building hydraulic structures. CWPRS created three-dimensional model of the Engineer! Polavaram Project in one acre at its premises. To the wonderment of Ms Bosekar, who is an authority on River Hydraulics, the CM went into minute details to find out whether the model was equipped with suitable inlet and outlet arrangements including discharge measurement system. Since many Cissues could be understood and finalised based on the results of model studies, the CM showed a lot of interest during his visit along with his cabinet colleague and Water Resources Ministry, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Principal Secretary Shashi Bhushan Kumar and Engineer-in-Chief M Venkateswara Rao. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in C O N T E N T S

Unveiling State’s Potential at Davos AP needs more 22 fiscal space 6 Rubbing shoulders with who’s who of the corporate world at Davos, CM Chandrababu Naidu successfully showcased the State's investment climate at 25 tripartite meetings. 5 High In Path Of 14 Progress CM’s 24 Social Network

Happening Andhra Various developments across the CM Foresees His Dream 32 state of Andhra Pradesh. Waning CM seeks PM’s 17 Readership for intervention 10 Telugu Novel 28 Cabinet Nod to International trade, 11 Water Grid tech hub for women 18 Cinema in Vizag You & Change Factor! Apollo Tyres sets 12 SpiceJet to Fly up new facility 19 With Araku Aroma in AP

Dassault System to train 13 1 lakh Andhra Students 30 Only Hinayana stupa in India

Relax FRBM Norms for AP: CM 20 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

ANDHRA PRADESH EDITORIAL Published Monthly In English & Telugu Volume:13 February 2018 Issue:9 AP should get what is due Salivahana Era 1939 n its birth, the truncated Andhra Pradesh was left a dispossessed state, divested of all resources that were built up over a period of Commissioner nearly sixty years. However, as some kind of a palliative, the AP Reor - S Venkateswar IIS Iganization Act assured a slew of supportive measures that would rescue the fledgling state from an imminent disaster. Editor "It is a fact that no State in our country is more dependent on the gen - Ramesh Babu Kandula erosity of the central government for its financial health than Andhra Pradesh..," Finance Minister Y Ramakrishunudu had to remind the Union Executive Editor Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in a recent missive. NCoavreers Pha gNe unna Dazzling at Davos During the last three-and-a-half years, the Government headed by Chan - drababu Naidu has left no stone unturned to secure what was promised Second Cover on the floor of the Parliament. Despite the best efforts of the State, the CM at Polavaram Dam Model Centre has not been forthcoming on several commitments made in the Third Cover Act. Month in pics The infamous story of the Special Category Status is by now well-known. Fourth Cover Even in the face of mounting political pressure, the Chief Minister agreed Governor on Republic Day to accept a special package in lieu of the Special Category, in the fond hope that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. However, there has been less than satisfactory progress on what is due from the Centre. Despite the best efforts of the CM, Polavaram is stuck, Published by: the railway zone is nowhere in sight and the financial assistance for the Information & Public Relations new capital is coming in trickles. Revenue deficit grants are being Department released piecemeal. Financial and institutional assistance from the Cen - Government of Andhra Pradesh tral government to attract investments, stimulate industrial develop - Hyderabad - 500 028 ment and revitalise the economy have not been very encouraging either. Ph: 040-23300258 As a result, there has been a widespread perception in the State that Andhra Pradesh has been receiving a raw deal, despite the good relations Views expressed by various between the ruling parties in both the State and the Centre. authors in this issue reflect their What the State has been pressing for is only a level-playing field, and not personal opinions. any special treatment. It is true that the Chief Minister, known for his result-oriented work culture, has been able to salvage the State's fragile Design economy by a relentless pursuit of investments and focussed efforts on Karthik Beesu good governance, resulting in an upward swing in the outlook. However, this cannot be used against the State, as NITI Aayog Vice-Chair - man Rajiv Kumar did when he hinted that Andhra Pradesh required Photos: neither “handholding” nor special category status given its economic T.Srinivasa Reddy, Vijayawada growth story. This is nothing but adding insult to injury. Andhra Pradesh Printed at has every right to realise its potential and its destiny; and for that, the Caxton Offset Pvt. Ltd. State should get what is due for the historical injustice done to it. Hyderabad Each Issue : Rs 20/- Annual Subscription : Rs 220/- Email: [email protected] www.ipr.ap.nic.in Ramesh Kandula Editor Ramesh Babu Kandula M/s Caxton Offset Pvt. Ltd

Printed and Published by on behalf of Director/Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Dept.; Printed at ., 11.5.416/3, Red Hills, Hyderabad - 500 004; Published at Office of Director/Commissioner , 4 I&PR Dept, Govt of Andhra Pradesh, Samachar Bhavan, AC Guards, Hyderabad - 500028. Editor: Ramesh Babu Kandula. FEBRUARY 2018 Ph: 040-23300258. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

CM Foresees His Dream Polavaram Model in Pune

Miniature Dream in An Acre

hief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu visiting Polavaram. the three-dimensional model of the Polavaram Project was like walking into his dream project. The model of Polavaram proj - A geometrically similar 1:140 scale model of spillway ect, created at the Central Water and Power Research and power intake of Polavaram Irrigation Project, was Station (CWPRS) in Pune, showed that Polavaram built in about one acre by by CWPRS, one of the fore - project would be not only an amazing piece of engi - most organisations in the world in the field of or hy - neering, but also a cultural symbol of the State. Direc - draulics and allied research. The model was created at tor of the Institute and authority on River Hydraulics the cost of Rs 40 lakh. V.V. Bosekar received the CM and his team and ex - Entire geography of river portion was plastered in plained the significance of the Hydraulic physical cement plaster after consolidating moorum beneath. model. River cross sections were incorporated up to 4800 m Bosekar explained how CWPRS provides specialised upstream and 3700 m downstream of dam axis. services through physical and mathematical model Approach channel of length 2310 m, spill channel of studies in river construction training and flood con - length 2780 m, pilot channel of length 660 m and tail - trol, hydraulic structures, harbours, coastal protection, race channel were also reproduced with cement plas - foundation engineering, construction materials, ter. Earth dams and Earth Cum Rock fill Dam (ECRF) pumps and turbines, ship hydro-dynamics, hydraulic were constructed with templates and using bricks and design of bridges, environmental studies, earth sci - cement plaster. Water Resources Minister Devineni ences and cooling water intakes. Umamaheswara Rao, Principal Secretary Shashi "Scaled model is used for replicating flow and evaluat - Bhushan Kumar and Engineer-in-Chief M ing the performance of hydraulic structures. An advan - Venkateswara Rao accompanied the Chief Minister. v tage of a hydraulic model is its potential capacity to Bosekar presented the Chief Minister a book on the FEBRUARY 2018 replicate many features of a complicated flow situa - history and achievements of CWPRS on the occasion. 5 Ction," Bosekar told CM, referring to the model of Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

AP Pavilion a big hit DAZZLING AT DAVOS Global investors Alibaba,Vedanta keen on State

State Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishna and Government Counselor Minister Carmen Walker Späh exchanging MoU for sister state relation between AP and Canton of Zurich. CM looks on.

One of the very few hief Minister Nara Chan - ful in portraying AP in right perspec - state leaders who drababu Naidu has been able tive and getting inbound investment. have been regular to consecutively project He participated in various sessions on visitors to Davos, CM Andhra Pradesh as an invest - issues like next generation industrial Chandrababu Naidu ment destination at the 4- day World strategies, infrastructure acceleration Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos. He and fourth industrial revolution being once again success - once again showcased business oppor - implemented in Andhra Pradesh under fully networked with tunities in 'Sunrise State' (new emerg - his aegis. The unprecedented consis - the who’s who of ing Andhra Pradesh), besides the tency of AP in ease of doing business world’s business State's heritage to global chief execu - was one of the major issues that made leaders, getting them tives during his interactions with global investors such Alibaba and interested in AP’s them. With his power-point presenta - SVeisdtaenrta-S gtraouteps A, egvrinecee minetenrets t in in - tions on 'progressing AP', talks and in - vesting in various industrial and infra - growth story. teractions, he brought down the house structure projects of AP. that included chief executives of the world's most important companies, top business leaders and bankers of One of the major accomplishments of the world and leaders from different CM's Davos tour was the sister-state walks of lives. agreement with the Canton of Zurich. While making his presence felt in AP Government had entered into the agreement, as a Letter of Intent (LOI) 6 Davos, the venue where top decision FEBRUARY 2018 makers converge, Naidu was success - was signed by Yanamala Ramakrish - C nudu, Minister for Finance, and Car - Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

With the sister-state agreement between AP and the Canton of Zurich, there would be collaborations through industry-specific programmes and projects, joint cooperation plans, ex - change of experience and information.

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s men Walker Späh, Zurich Councillor complex and twin towers -Vedanta soon. and Head of the Department for Eco - towers on the land in its posses - Susan Silbermann, the President of nomic Affairs, in the presence of the sion in Visakhapatnam. Pfizer Vaccines, called on the CM Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. In a significant move, the Chinese during the WEF in Davos to get Accordingly, there would be collabo - company Alibaba Group showed permissions for pneumonia vaccine rations through industry-specific keen interest to establish a data in AP. The Chief Minister agreed to s programmes and projects, joint centre, which would be the second immediately clear permissions to cooperation plans, exchange of expe - facility in India after the one in introduce a vaccine by Pfizer for rience and information, establish - Mumbai. Responding to the con - pneumonia. ment of joint expert groups and vincing invitation by the CM, Al - Lixil Group was a sanitary ware ------work, implementation of skill devel - ibaba Cloud President Simon Hu and ceramic products manufactur - opment of an educational nature and made up his mind to come up with ing company and looking for a right regular expert-level consultations. It establishing the data center in AP. choice to enter into Indian market for both manufacturing and export - ing. The Chief Minister struck a re - sponsive chord while referring to his vision for Amaravati to the CEO, Lixil Group, Kinya Seto. “We want to build Amaravati into a hub for construction materials,” the CM told Seto. The CM, in turn, was apprised of the advanced aqua ce - ramic technology of Lixil, for manu - facturing. The Chief Minister invited the offi - cials to AP and assured them that they would be provided with all the facilities and cooperation, includ - s CM With Peter Selfridge, Global Head of Digital Governance, SAP Labs ing in training the manpower through the Skill Development Cor - s poration. On the third day of the WEF sum - mit, the Chief Minister met Anand is also expected that the economic Referring to the huge demand in Mahindra, Chairman Mahindra and scientific relations in Informa - the field of construction in 'decon - Group, which is now marketing tion and Communication Technology, structed' Andhra Pradesh, the CM Araku coffee in Paris successfully. PEnavcitrosn amnedn tPalr Toebchanboiloitgiye, sLife Sci - invited the CEO of Alghanim Indus - “I want a good presence of Mahin - sences and Urban and Regional Devel - tries, Omar Alghanim, to locate one dra in AP, a would-be model state opment would get a boost. of their factories in Andhra not only for India, but also for the Pradesh. Alghanim Industries is world, in a few years”, the CM told known for manufacturing con - Mahindra. After his bilateral meeting with the struction material. Being apprised On being apprised of Mahindra’s Chairman of Vedanta Resources, of the massive housing projects in plan to set up a world class indus - Anil Agarwal, the Vedanta Group FEBRUARY 2018 AP by the government, the firm trial city as SEZ, the CM asked him showed interest to establish a cop - 7 agreed to send a team to the State to send his team to AP to find a per smelter and build a commercial Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

IT Minister Nara Lokesh in Interactive Plenary by PwC and CII on Industrial Corridors in India: Demand-led Planning and Financing, at Davos.

Chief Minister invited Raheja group to set up Mindspace, on the lines of Raheja Mindspace in Hyderabad, in Amaravati, Visakhapat - nam and Hindupur. Officials of Raheja agreed to visit AP soon.

suitable location for their opera - which is already ventured 'Make in tee, was one of the CM's many bi - tions. Naidu also asked Mahindra India' initiative. The representa - lateral meetings with world leaders for his support in the planning and tives of Airbus had already met the and entrepreneurs, that aimed to construction of Amaravati as well APEDB officials last year and has bring in investors to AP. ABB is a as his assistance for electric vehi - been in constant touch with them. Swedish Swiss multinational cor - s poration headquartered in Zurich, cles for the city. The company also Overwhelmed by CM's reception, operating through four divisions offered to initiate skill develop - Hoke invited him to their manufac - namely Electrification Products, ment programs in AP. turing units in different countries. s Robotics and Motion, Industrial Au - During his meeting with Raheja Hoke also confirmed on the possi - tomation, and Power Grids. Group president Ravi Raheja, the ble execution of the project in AP CM invited the group to set up soon in 2018. The CM explained him about the various initiatives taken in the Mindspace, on the lines of Raheja Naidu met Ron Pal, Founding Part - power sector to promote clean en - Mindspace in Hyderabad, in Amar - ner and Chairman of Pioneering ergy, solar, wind and their hybrid. avati, Visakhapatnam and Ventures. The firm has a presence s s He invited Gu to explore possibili - Hindupur. Echelons of Raheja in Kuppam and Nanded in Maha - ties of locating manufacturing facil - agreed to visit AP soon to check rashtra and is looking for expan - ities in AP. land and other infrastructure. sion in AP. The CM assured Ron Pal Naidu met Dr Tobias Dauth from every possible support for their ex - Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu Fraunhofer IMW, a Leipzig- based pansion plan. The company already met with Hitachi President Toshi - technology research organisation spent Rs 1,000 crore in the agricul - aki Higashihara. An MoU was that offers market analytics to hun - ture sector in India and planning to signed in his presence between dreds of medium and large compa - invest Rs. 5,000 crore in horticul - APEDB Chairman J. Krishna nies in Germany and Europe. BMW ture and dairy in the next five Kishore and Toshiaki Higashihara and Bosch were two among many years. Appreciating the expansion focusing on future collaboration. clients of Fraunhofer IMW that plans of Pioneering Ventures, the The signing of MoU will facilitate were exploring possibilities in CM promised for a small airport in the development of the Hitachi s s India. The meeting was fruitful Kuppam that would largely con - MGRM Citizen Lifecycle E-Gover - with the CM's assurance on collab - tribute to their cargo movement nance platform in Andhra Pradesh. oration with Fraunhofer IMW. and travel. Hitachi also committed to input its strengths and advantages in terms 8 The CM assured firm support in The meeting with Dr. Chunyuan Gu, FEBRUARY 2018 providing facilities to Dirk Hoke, AMEA Region President and Mem - of technology to create novel solu - CEO of Airbus Defense and Space, ber of the ABB Executive Commit - tions to social problems. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

The CM met Nanyang Technological University (NTU) president Dr Subra Suresh and explained him the initia - tives such as connecting remote areas with Free Space Optical Communica - tion (FSOC), e-Pragati and Real Time Governance.

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s CMT hWeit Ch hCiIIe Df eMleignaitsetse art a tlhseo R hTaGd W aa lfle iwn AP LoungIe n another important meeting, the fields. Dr. Suresh invited the CM to fruitful bilateral meetings with CM and Bernard Charles, President visit their campus in Singapore. Tulsi Tanti, CMD of Suzlon, Mohan and CEO of Dassault Systèmes, a The Chief Minister met with Jai Shroff, Global CEO, UPL Ltd, a global player in the crop protection space with its portfolio ranging from patented, proprietary, and post-patented products. During the interactive session, the CM invited representatives of UPL Ltd to demonstrate the effectiveness of a product which they claimed can re - tain and release 2,000 litres of water per acre. Shroff told the CM that the firm had a product that could absorb water in fields and slowly release it during dry spells. They are also keen on introducing India to a product which blends and mixes with fertilisers to pre - Chainani, Board Member of Mantra renowned name for aerospace and vent it from getting washed away Data Centres, Tarek Sultan Al Essa, defense solutions, shared their ex - s in the rain and reduces the con - CEO of Agility Logistics and Direc - periences mutually. sumption of fertilisers by about 30 tor Eugene Mayne, Dr. Felix Gre - Owing to the implementation of per cent. sard, Chairman of Medtech our technologies, there were zero The Chief Minister met with Innovation, Rajnish Kumar, SBI accidents in air transportation last Stephan Nigro, President HP 3D Mcuhtauiraml aKnn, Soawid lHeaddgraem Si,h thaer iVnigce year. Our technologies could be printing and CEO Dion Weisler on s President (International Opera - transferred from aerospace to the second day of World Economic tions) of Saudi Aramco. other domains, by applying the Forum. The CM asked the HP offi - same science," Charles told Naidu. cials to set up an experience centre The Chief Minister asked him to During his meeting with Peter Self - in AP which could be used to bring those technologies to Amara - demonstrate the process of 3D ridge, Global Head of Digital Gov - s vati. printing to the people. When he ernment, SAP, the CM sought for s support SAP on development of a “Send a team to Amaravati, and you asked HP authorities to set up their system that enables the govern - can study what systems can be in - institute of excellence, they agreed. ment to have predictive analytics of troduced," he said. During his interaction with Hari state revenue and expenditure. The Naidu met Nanyang Technological Bhartia, who is founder and Co- well-known name in the field of University (NTU) president Dr. Chairman of Jubilant Bhartia Group skill development and smart cities, Subra Suresh and explained him and also chairs the Board of Gover - SAP, is presently supporting AP the initiatives such as connecting nors for the Indian Institute of government with financial manage - remote areas with Free Space Opti - Management in Visakhapatnam, ment system for the Finance De - cal Communication (FSOC), e-Pra - the CM requested him to set up ovf partment. As a result, the echelon gati and Real Time Governance. He an Artificial Intelligence Institute in FEBRUARYo f2 S0A18P was ready to device AP Rev - also explained establishing 6,000 Andhra Pradesh. enue System and SAP will be on virtual class rooms and use of 9 track from end of March this year. drones and sensors in various Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

CM seeks PM’s intervention Naidu appeals to Modi for speedy implementation of AP Reorganisation Act

The CM called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi u

It is submitted with regret that the assurance relat - ing to establishment of a new Railway Zone in the successor State of Andhra Pradesh remained unful - filled so far. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested the Govt. of India for formation of a new Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters. The Railway Board has constituted a Committee to examine the feasibility in this regard. This is a long

u pending decades old request and hence, there is an immediate need to fulfil this assurance by sanction - ing a separate Railway Zone with Visakhapatnam as headquarters. Government of Andhra Pradesh has requested Gov - ernment of India to amend relevant provisions re - garding matters dealing with taxation (Section-50,

u 51 & 56 of A.P. Reorganisation Act) to rectify anom - aly and action in this regard is still pending. If the ndhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu amendment is not made to the Act immediately, the Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in state would be put to a loss of Rs. 3,820 crore. New Delhi on January 12 and urged him to ful - fil all the commitments made in the Andhra A Cracker and Petrochemical Complex is proposed to Pradesh Reorganisation Act. During the hour-long meet - be established by the GAIL-HPCL consortium at Kak - inada as per Schedule XIII of the APR Act, 2014. The ing, the CM discussed with Modi unfulfilled promises u under the Act and submitted a 17-page memorandum. Government of India is requested to fund the viabil - Though the Government of Andhra Pradesh is in contin - ity gap for this prestigious project by way of a Capi - uous touch with the Central Government and as well as tal Grant of Rs.5,615 crore. respective Ministries, the progress of implementation of The progress on establishment of institutions and the assurances mentioned in the A.P. Reorganisation projects under Schedule-XIII of the A.P. Reorganisa - Act, 2014 as well as the assurances of the then Prime tion Act, 2014 is that out of 11 institutions men - Minister on the floor of the Rajya Sabha and the an - tioned in Schedule-XIII, 9 have been sanctioned so nouncement of Special Assistance Measure need to be far. The Government of India is yet to establish Cen - tral University in Anantapur district and Tribal Uni - uspeeded up and in this connection, the intervention of the Hon’ble Prime Minister is requested, the CM’s letter versity in Vizianagaram district. For the 9 said. The following, among others, are a few of the is - sanctioned institutions, the Government of Andhra sues raised by the CM: Pradesh has provided nearly 2,900 acres of valuable u It is requested to make substantial budget allocation lands, at an estimated value of about Rs. 11,600 for Capital construction in the ensuing Union Budget crores. Further, the Andhra Pradesh Government in 2018-19. has released an amount of Rs. 130 crores for con - struction of compound walls to protect the land that Section-26 of the A.P. Reorganisation Act, 2014 pro - has been allotted to the said 9 institutions. Against vides for increase of existing seats from 175 to 225 the estimated project cost of Rs. 11,673 crores, the in the A.P. Legislative Assembly. Proposals were fur - Government of India has so far released around Rs. nished on 29.09.2016 and the matter is being pur - 421 crores only. Thus, there is a huge gap in provid - Asued regularly. Hon’ble Chief Minister has also ing funds to these institutions by the Government of addressed letter on 24.07.2017 to Hon’ble Prime 10 India and unless and until larger budFgEeBtaRrUyA aRllYo c2a 0-18 Minister in this regard. The same is pending with tions are made by the Government of India during Govt. of India. This may be expedited. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Cabinet Nod to Water Grid 3.6 crore rural households to get water

the financial year 2018-19, there is no scope to complete the civil works and ensure the functioning of these institutions in their respective cam - puses. The contribution of State Gov -

u ernment and Govt. of India for the 11 educational institutions mentioned in Schedule-XIII of the Act is given below: Cabinet session The other assurances made in Sched - ule-XIII regarding are establishment of Integrated Steel Plant at Kadapa, establishment of Vizag-Chennai In - dustrial Corridor, establishment of s irrigation and drinking water are priority areas for the Rapid Road & Rail Connectivity from Govrnment, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu resolved New Capital and Metro Rail Facility in to develop a smart water grid to provide safe and assured Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, also drinking water to every corner of the State. Accordingly, need to be fulfilled. A specific road the State Cabinet, under his chairmanship, recently approved an map has to be drawn by each of the ambitious water grid project with the objective to provide safe Departments concerned and action drinking water to every household in the State. Water grid is one of plan to be drawn and implemented the five grids envisaged by the Chandrababu Naidu when he took for the purpose of fulfilling these as - the reins of the State. surances without further loss of time. u Speaking to the media after cabinet's nod on water grid, the CM The action plan drawn up needs to be said it (water grid) was the most significant decision taken as it monitored and reviewed at regular would benefit lakhs of people in the state. “Ensuring water security intervals at the highest level. for the rural areas is prime focus of our government. As per 2017 In addition to the above, the division statistics, 3.65 crore people live in rural areas and they must be the of assets, liabilities and employees of main beneficiaries of water grid,” he said. 89 corporations and companies in u According to him, it was determined to develop water grid in four Schedule-IX and 142 institutions in districts of Rayalaseema (Kadapa, Kurnool, Anantapur, Chittoor) Schedule-X to the Act is pending even and Nellore district in PPP (Hybrid Annuity Model) mode at the after 3 ½ years after bifurcation. cost of Rs 9,400 crore and in the remaining 8 districts it would be Though there is very clear provision taken up with government funding and bank loans at a cost of Rs regarding division of properties of A 6,000 crore. “Banks like Vijaya Bank, Punjab and Sindh Bank, Ca - P Bhawan located at New Delhi and nara Bank, Andhra Bank, Corporation Bank have come forward to Ministry of Home has already clari - lend while 25 companies have given their expression of interest. fied that these properties are divisi - APCOST has prepared DPR for Srikakulam, Godavari districts, Kr - ble, the same is yet to take place. This ishna,” he said and added that there was no compromise on the needs to be expedited. qAuality. Since the division is forced on the State, The CM asserted that the utmost priority was to ensure water secu - there is a duty on the part of the Ministry rity for the state. Accordingly, water resources and irrigation proj - of Home Affairs to regularly review all v ects would be completed and developed at a fast pace, he said. v the above issues and resolve the pending Government would spend Rs 52,000 crore and more, if necessary. FEBRUARYd i2s0p1u8 tes, the Chief Minister said. He said the target was to ensure construction of 6-7 reservoirs pe1r 1 district as a permanent solution for water problems. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

CM Chandrababu Naidu at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Apollo Tyres in Chittoor district. Ministers and Apollo chairman Onkar S Kanwar are also seen.

AP is turning into an auto hub with a slew of companies including Hero MotoCorp, Kia Motors of Korea, Isuzu of Japan and Bharat Forge setting up plants. The latest entrant is Apollo Tyres.

erate employment for 700 people in the first phase. “While planning for this state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, we have provisioned for the future capacity expansion require - ments in India for the next 5 years and more. We are thankful to the AP Govt for excellent cooperation re - ceived from them so far,” Onkar said. pollo Tyres laid the founda - ning in the following 24 months. tion stone for a Rs 1,800- We chose AP to set up a new plant, “In Chennai, we are producing about because it is fast becoming an attrac - crore tyre factory in Andhra 900 tonnes per day. But in this new Pradesh. The unit will be its tive investment destination, Neeraj unit in Andhra Pradesh, we will be Kanwar said. seventh globally and will come up producing 180-200 tonnes a day in over a 200-acre site in Chinnapan - the first phase,” he said. Apollo Tyres currently has four man - duru village near Sri City in Chittoor ufacturing facilities in the country — The company’s chairman Onkar S district. The factory will provide di - two (including a leased facility) in Kanwar said that the per day produc - rect employment to 700 people. Kerala, and one each in Gujarat and tion capacity will be around 16,000 The foundation stone was laid by Tamil Nadu. It has a factory each in passenger car radial tyres. The the Netherlands and Hungary. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, planned facility is located in Chinna - in the presence of Onkar S Kanwar, panduru village, Chittoor district. Chandrababu Naidu, while assuring Apollo Tyres of his government’s full APOLLO TYRES support in completing the first phase as early as possible, asked the com - sets up new facility in AP pany to look at investments in the state’s proposed logistics park as well as in the healthcare sector. Naidu further asked them to look at the educational sector in the state. Naidu said the state is aiming to become one of the top three states, Chairman, and Neeraj Kanwar, Vice- The facility, Onkar said, will be as far as investments are concerned Chairman and Managing Director, utilised to meet both domestic and by 2020, and the top state by 2029. Apollo Tyres. export demand. “It is going to be a The state is planning to create a AThe facility will produce passenger long-term relationship with the AP conducive atmosphere to develop an car radial (PCR) tyres initially. The government and this will be another auto cluster around Chittoor. With initial capacity will be about 5.5 mil - modern and great factory. It is only the entry of Hero MotoCorp, Kia lion tyres per year and will serve the beginning and based on further Motors of Korea, Isuzu of Japan and both domestic and export markets. demand, the company will invest Bharat Forge, the proposed Apollo v The construction work will start more (taking the total investments to Tyres plant will make the AP the FEBRUARY 2018 12 within the next six months, and the Rs 5,000 crore over the next few right choice for investors who plan to factory is expected to be up and run - years),” he added. The plant will gen - manufacture, he pointed out. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Dassault System to train 1 lakh Andhra Students

World Class Development in AP Bill Gates Letter to CM CM with representatives of Dassault Systems Limited, including MD Khaou.

n the endeavor to transform Andhra Pradesh into a glob - ally competitive and happy society, Chief Minister em - ollowing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s barked on scripting Vision 2029 document. It would no efforts, a European multinational software more be a vision, but would be a dream come true very soon, companyDassault Systems of France agreed to according to Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and trustee of train 1 lakh Andha Students with their training cen - the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ter. Foreseeing the scope in high end manufacturing “The fastest growing Andhra Pradesh will soon emerge ideal industry and initiating to make students ‘industry for the rest of the world,” he said in a recent letter to the CM. ready’, the CM asked Dassault Systems to help Weeks after attending the AP AgTech Summit-2017 in Andhra in preparing youth. Consequently, Andhra Visakhapatnam, Gates sent a 2-page letter to the CM appreci - Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation ating his vision to bring technology to small holder farmers (APSSDC) entered into a Memorandum of Under - and to establish AP as innovation hub for agriculture tech - standing (MoU) with DS to provide training to one nologies. lakh students in three years starting from 2018-19. “The scale of the AgTech summit certainly manifests the scale Speaking on the occasion, the CM averred that tal - of your vision,” Gates said. ented manpower was need of the hour in the State He, in his letter, requested the CM to ensure that the progress along with best infrastructure. Iin agri-inventions is followed up on the Core Dashboard, “I suppose the training programme will defenitely which is monitored by the CMO directly. hFelp to increase the talented manpower in the State. "I look forward to following our collaboration's progress, and Obviously it will be useful in attracting investments to seeing how these transformative shifts are reflected on as the investors were asking for talented work - your dashboard," he said. force,” he said. The training programme will offer 85 Gates also hinted the CM be in touch with Dr Purvi Mehta, courses with world class standards. Investors can who co-chairs Agricultural Transformation Steering Commit - utilise the trained people productively as it reduces tee. The American business magnate turned philanthropist their hiring and training costs, he added. said he enjoyed the discussions during the summit. According to APSSDC MD K Sambasiva Rao, the cost He reiterated their enthusiasm to provide support for farming of the project is Rs. 309 crores over a period of practices in addition to land mapping and farming. As the three years and AP government will provide Rs 36 Foundation joined as knowledge partner and helps in realis - crores in three instalments while the DS will invest ing the plans of the State for inclusive agriculture transforma - Rs. 273 crores to establish the Experience Centre tion, Gates affirmed the foundation’s commitment to work and to offer the product and service at a subsidised with the government’s ongoing collaborative areas. price for the students. Dassault Systems(DS) will es - tablish an Experience Centre (EC) in 5,000 square In his letter, Gates also referred to the reforms carried out in feet space. The DS has vast experience in offering the health sector by Chandrababu Naidu. He appreciated the training through designing software CATIA, manu - management of urban health centres in the neighbouring facturing software DELMIA and Analysis software services system. “Andhra Pradesh has been in the forefront ovf v SIMULIA. The training programmes would enable India in providing insurance to the majority of the people. The the students to find jobs in aerospace, defense, au - FEBRUdAedRiYc a2t0io1n8 of Andhra Pradesh for the development should be tomotive and ship building sectors. 13 ideal for many,” he said. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Janma Bhoomi – Maaa Vooru

AT THE DOOR STEPS Of People

Ten days of toil, thousands of gram sabhas involving lakhs of people, health camps, new ration cards, 50 lakh pensions, new scholarships to dalits, endless pleas seeking benefits, awards and rewards, all contributed to make the fifth round of `Janma Bhoomi – Maaa Vooru’ a grand event, coming as it was as another Big Festival on the eve of Sankranti.

individually and collectively towards development during the programme aimed to strengthen a society with thelofty ideals of sacrifice, hard work, self-re - spect, equality, active participation, transparency and accountability is the hallmark of Janma Bhoomi which is not merely a government programme but something continuously done with people’s partner - ship. After the bifurcation of the State, Chandrababu he festival spirit was all pervasive across Naidu who took the reins as Chief Minister, launched Andhra Pradesh for a good ten days from Janma Bhoomi once again with a few changes and or - January 2. Janma Bhoomi – Maa Vooru ganized it for the fifth time with great success. Dur - round witnessed daily discussions on as ing Janma Bhoomi, gram sabhas are conducted in many as nine topics –Health and happiness, every village, town and city wards to identify the Swachchandhra, education and enlightenment, basic people’s needs and take them up on priority basis to infrastructural facilities, natural resources and devel - resolve all issues. That no other state in India has opment, development of agriculture and allied sec - taken up such a programme to take governance to tors, good governance and use of technology, vision the door step of the people, reflects the democratic Jswanarmnaan dBhhraopormadei s–ht hanedn a allenvdia ntionw of poverty. And approach of Andhra Pradesh government. on the final day, those who displayed talents were felicitated and given away prizes. As many as 175 nodal officers worked hard to make Janma Bhoomi meetings a success in 13,000 villages. Discussing people’s issues –social and economic Janma Bhoomi which was started on January 1, 1997 Aas ppeectosp -ilne g’sr ammo savbehmase anntd creating awareness is by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu during his testimony to the sincerity of the Government in earlier term in the office, is now written in letters of resolving people’s problems. gold in the annuals of Telugu history. Janma Bhoomi FEBRUARY 2018 14 is a programme involving the people and spreading awareness in every village. All the people do their bit The Janma Bhoomi –Maa Vooru programme was T Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

organized like a great movement for average of 65. won the first prize while Woman and ten days till January 11 with people’s According to figures, the number of Child Welfare department and representatives, self-help groups, gram sabhas held during the pro - pension scheme won the second and and official machinery making them - gramme was 17,496, people took third prizes respectively. Krishna, selves available to the people. The part 67,36,416; new ration cards dis - Visakhapatnam and Anantapur Government spent Rs 1 crore for the tributed 2,00,037; new pensions district were adjudged the first, sec - programme in each district and 1,20,849; new scholarships for SC, ond and third among the districts. In wherever it was needed, up to an - ST, BCs 12,20,832; health camps settlement of financial issues, Kr - other Rs.50 lakh was spent. While 16,802; patients treated 11,56,044; ishna was first followed by Kurnool the people questioned the officials animal husbandry medical camps and Nellore in that order while in and people’s representatives in the 24,180, cattle treated 14,67,251; non-financial aspects, Krishna past, they are now adopting a memoranda from people 12,37,338; topped again followed by Visakhap - friendly approach which can be awards and rewards 2,35,970; atnam and West Godavari in second termed a revolutionary change and a house-sites distributed 1,98,351; and third places. Employees great achievement in itself. and tool-kits distributed 57,151. G. Varmarajum S. Srinivasarao (Vizianagaram), Sk.M. Shah It is found that the people’s State-level awards were given away (Visakhapatnam), K. Posaiah (Rajah - satisfactory level which was at 58 by Chief Minister Chandrababu Crowd-puller mundry), M. Madhuri, and S. Hari - per cent by January 1, had risen to Naidu for officials who displayed nath (Krishna) received prizes. 65 per cent through the Janma merit. Besides, awards for best pan - Bhoomi –Maa Vooru programme. chayats, wards, mandals, and munic - Real time governance indices show ipalities along with self-help groups, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu that the percentage of people’s and cultural troupes were also given was the centre of attraction as peo - satisfaction was Guntur 73, Kurnool away by the Chief Minister. In all, ple swarmed his meetings wherever 70, West Godavari 69, Visakhapat - 131 awards were presented in 17 he went as part of the Janma Bhoomi nam 61, Anantapur 60, for an overall wings. Chandranna Beema scheme programme. Inaugurating the pro - gramme on January 2 at Darsi in Prakasam district, he pointed how Andhra Pradesh was the only State in the country to have achieved double-digit growth and nowhere in India did any State give away pensions to 50 lakh people. Also, Andhra Pradesh stood as a role model in loan waiver and other states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh were trying to emulate it. Thanks to right fiscal policies, the standard of living of the people had risen during the past thre and a half years and welfare measures were being implemented to achieve 80 --- per cent satisfactory levels from people. Four lakh Saadhikara Mitras FEBRUARY 2018 would be set up in the State to 15 supervise the implementation of Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

various schemes, he said. and coir industry being established pees of their hard earned money to On the second day, the Chief Minister in Srikakulam, he revealed. develop villages in Andhra Pradesh. addressed meeting in Pulivendula of The Chief Minister participated in At C.H. Gunnepalli in Mummidivaram Kadapa district. He sought people’s the programmes at Dharmasagar of mandal of East Godavari district, the cooperation for developing Ray - Narsipatnam mandal in Visakhapat - Chief Minister said efforts were on to alaseema as `Ratanalaseema’. He said nam district and Bobbili of Viziana - ensure Rs.10,000 income per month he had kept his promise by provid - garam district on the fourth day. He to every family in the State. Imple - ing water for irrigation in Puliven - was fulfilling a commitment when he ments were being provided to two dula ahead of his own constituency sanctioned 50 lakh pensions since lakh ST, SC, BC beneficiaries. People of Kuppam in Chittoor district. He he had promised during the elec - could call 1100 on any issue which toured Pulivendula and Lingala man - tions that he would serve the people would be resolved immediately, he dals and unveiled a pylon at Parna - as their eldest son, he recalled. He said. Also, cement roads to an extent palle in Lingala mandal and clarified that any complaint coming of 15,000 km. were laid in the State inaugurated the Gandikota and Chi - up in Jamna Bhoomi progress would and if required, the power charges travati lift irrigation schemes. He be resolved. “We have provided fiber would be reduced, he stated. was glad to see flowing water in Ray - net connections to one lakh house - In Dharmavaram of Anatapur dis - alaseema which was thirsting for it holds with facilities such as 15 Mbps trict, the Chief Minister said he was since ages. In this context, he said speed internet, 500 channels and prepared to spend any amount of that people scorned at him when he three telephone wifi, bringing money to drive away famine in Ray - said he would supply water to Ray - knowledge to your door-step. alaseema. The state was implement - alaseema and he now proved him - Rs.50,000 crore is spent to build 19 ing several welfare schemes for the self. He also said 19 lakh houses lakh houses. And 100 per cent liter - people which were not found else - were being constructed in the entire acy will be achieved by the end of where, he said. state. the year 2019,” he said. Touring Ichchapuram in Srikakulam At Kodurupadu in Nellore district, he TNhTeR b iBggheastr sooscaia lm seicleursittoy nsce heme in district on the third day, he said top said that plans to provide protected India –NTR Bharosa – has achieved a priority was being accorded to water supply to villages at a cost of major milestone during the fifth Swachchandhrapradesh programme. Rs.25,000 crore were already pre - round of Janma Bhoomi –Maa Vooru Andhra Pradesh would be made pared. In Atmakur of Kurnool dis - programme organized in the first open defecation free (ODF) by March trict, he inaugurated the Rs.116 half of January. The State Govern - 31 this year. He also administered crore Budda Vengala Reddy Siddha - ment’s target of providing pension to Swachchandhra Pradesh pledge to puram lift irrigation scheme. He told 2000 more persons in every con - the people at gram sabha and prom - a public meeting that over Rs.50,000 stituency in Andhra Pradesh to ised to complete the Vamsadhara crore were spent on water resources achieve 50 lakh mark was reached. reservoir and it would change the face of Ray - The Chief Minister also clarified that project to provide irrigation water alaseema as it would help Chittoor the additional 2000 was not a hard up to Ichchapuram in dought-hit store get 4 tmc, Anatapur 25 tmc, and fast rule and more could be areas. Also, payment of second pen - Kadapa 73 tmc and Kurnool 43 tmc sanctioned for the eligible and de - sion in a family which is eligible ft of water. serving, basing on the applications. would be considered and sanction of Addressing a meeting at Vegeswara - If the number was less in a particu - pension to unmarried single women puram in Tallapudi mandal of West lar constituency, it could be adjusted was also under examination, he dis - Godavari district, Chandrababu to accommodate more in another v closed. Resorts at a cost of Rs.200 Naidu said that 450 NRIs had arrived segment, he pointed out. crore and construction of jetty proj - to participate in Janma Bhoomi pro - FEBRUARY 2018 16 ects with Rs.43 crore would be taken gramme and he was proud of them up in Kalingapatnam and coconut as they were spending crores of ru - Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

WANING READERSHIP for TELUGU NOVEL

lish and not enough in Telugu. That is one of the problems. A second problem is that children and young adults start with 'fun stuff'. However, in Telugu, good writ - ers disdain writing 'fun stuff'. Once the kids go through the phase of adventure fantasies and mythol - ogy, there isn't much fun stuff that they can read - which then makes it difficult to go to the next step of mature reading. An issue particularly relevant to novels is the lack of publication space for the serious writer. The time for monthly serials is over; the weeklies are not inter - ested in lengthy (or serious novels); and if either the author or a publisher goes ahead and publishes a novel - there is no space to discuss or publicise them. The truth is that a serious reader in a non-urban en - vironment does not know what is being published and what is available for him/her to read. We have aning readership and market for Telugu huge lacunae in publication and distribution. Frankly, novel is a topic that I have been inter - I think the publication and distribution sectors are ested for a long time. It is my under-serving the Telugu readers creating a vicious observation that kids who grow up in cycle of diminishing returns. Whenever I am involved Telugu environments (meaning outside the rarefied in publishing, I ask for a print run of 2,000 copies and air of middle and upper middle class of Hyderabad I get enormous resistance. However, every time we English medium education) seem to be interested in printed 2,000 copies, we sold them out. reading stuff in Telugu that is age-appropriate. I saw Another thing that I would note is that there is also a them reading the children's pages of newspaper sup - dearth of mature writing. When we conducted com - plements. However, for them to inculcate a reading petitions for novels and short stories, we saw some habit, they need to have attractive reading material good works in the first few years. After that initial ex - that should be in continuous supply. I think that is cellence was exhausted, the quality dropped precipi - where we failed in the 1990s and the 2000s. As TV tously. The well seems to have dried out and we were was taking hold in the households with Chota Bheem forced to abandon the competitions. Now that we re - and other attractive kids fare, and there are colourful vived the novel competition after a decade, we had a English books available for children, the supply of better outcome. But, I am concerned what will hap - books in Telugu for children went dry. pen if we have another competition next year. Only in the last decade have we seen more and more In summary, I think our critical first step should be books available for children (thank you Manchipus - increasing the supply of reading materials for chil - takam and Kottapalli). If you want to gift a book to a dren and young adults in a massive way, and then fol - child and visit a few book shops, you would find low-up with efforts to enh-a Dnrc.e V th Ceh mowardkaetr yfo Jr ampala plenty of books in English appropriate for all age lev - 'popular' reading and provide the publishing space els from pre-kindergarten to young adults, all of them and distribution mechanisms for mature writing. printed and packaged attractively. What can you find in Telugu? Particularly for the pre-high school kids? Former President,TANA FEBRUARY 2018 WSo, a kid that is interested in reading and is being ed - Head TANA Publishing Divis1io7 n ucated in English medium has plenty to read in Eng - Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

INTERNATIONAL TRADE , TECH HUB for women in VIZAG

CM addressing Women Empowerment summit in Vizag.

ndhra Pradesh Government very key role at the grassroots level Rijal, the president of South Asian has made a radical move to in empowering women. During the Women Development Forum, Nepal, encourage women entre - next phase, they will also stimulate for setting up the trade centre and preneurs in a big way. What entrepreneurship among women. It tech hub for women entrepreneurs in is in the offing is an international is his aim to ensure that each family Vizag district. trade and technology hub for women in the state has a minimum income of Women have proved their mettle in entrepreneurs being established in Rs 10,000 per month and it can only the IT industry and other fields and Visakhapatnam district on five acres be achieved with empowerment of the State Government will go out of allotted by the State Government. women. Equal opportunities have to the way to ensure inclusive develop - The hub will stimulate entrepreneur - be given to women, both in employ - ment, he assured and urged the dele - ship among women in the State and ment and entrepreneurship, he gates from SAARC countries to the country. The announcement was pointed out. Amzad Hussain B Sial, establish their units in Visakhapat - made by the Chief Minister in mid- the Secretary-General of SAARC, said nam since AP has been ranked by the January during the three-day women the trade and tech hub coming up in World Bank as No.1 in ease of doing entrepreneurs' conference, organised Vizag would be of great help not only business. In this context, the Chief by the Association of Lady Entrepre - to women in AP and India, but to the Minister cited the instances of his neurs of Andhra Pradesh (ALEAP) in women in the whole SAARC region. own family members –wife association with the AP Government. According to K. Ramadevi, the presi - Bhuvaneswari and daughter-in-law The theme of the conference - inno - dent of the ALEAP, industrial parks Brahmani who have become success - vation, incubation and industrialisa - are being set up at Rajahmundry and ful entrepreneurs. tion - was very apt, he observed and Nellore exclusively for women within During the last couple of years, the underscored the need for empower - one month and six more in the State State had signed MoUs envisaging ment of women in all sectors and fos - within the next two years or so. investments to the tune of Rs.13.47 tering entrepreneurship among ALEAP will make all efforts to protect crore and generating about 30 lakh them. Two decades ago during his environment while encouraging in - jobs. The State was encouraging first stint as the Chief Minister of the dustrialisation. A memorandum of A MSMEs in particular because of their State, Naidu had launched a move - understanding was signed by AP In - vast employment poteFnEtBiRalU, Ahe RY 2018 18 ment to set up the self-help groups of dustries Minister Amarnath Reddy pointed out. To encourage women women and now they are playing a and Rama Devi and Pramila Acharya Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

SpiceJet to Fly

entrepreneurs, the Government will trepreneurs, The traditional thinking With Araku provide 50 acres of land at Gidijala in that only a job with a monthly salary Anandapuram mandal of Visakhap - is a safe option should go, she feels. . Aroma atnam district where ALEAP will set The IT sector, which was till recently up a green industrial park. There viewed as a safe and secure option were discussions on interesting top - without any risk, is no longer consid - ics during the three-day conference. ered so. Sustainable growth can only Lectures were arranged on disrup - be achieved when one takes risks. n a significant development, tive technologies, marketing and Entrepreneurship is not something SpiceJet, the third largest airline business development, views about that can be acquired through train - in the country by number of do - women in a male dominated film in - ing alone, the zeal should be there in mestic passengers carried has come dustry, how Indian startup scenario us, opined Roopa, who is also MD of forward to serve the organic brew of can be improved, incubators, accel - Serendipity Consultancy Services Araku to its passengers. erators and best practices, initiatives Private Limited, Hyderabad. Asked for promotion of rural women entre - about the advantage India enjoyed, In a win-win situation for the preneurship by AP Government, compared to other SAARC countries, Tourism Department and SpiceJet, Government of India initiatives in IT she says that India is blessed with AP Tourism ministry planned for sector, industrialisation and emerg - abundant natural resources unlike promoting of Araku Coffee, a product of the Girijan Cooperative Corpora - tion (GCC). Araku Coffee, the organic coffee grown in the tribal tracts of the Visakhapatnam Agency will fig - ure from February in the list of an - nouncements made in the SpiceJet fIlights bound for destinations in Andhra Pradesh. Also, the coffee will be served to the passengers aboard the flights. SpiceJet operates close to 36 flights per day to destinations such as Visakhapatnam, Rajamahen - dravaram, Vijayawada, and Tirupati . Delegates of Women Empowerment Summit. According to Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya said the depart - ment came up with the novel way of promoting Araku Coffee and Araku Valley. SpiceJet air hostesses would ing opportunities for women entre - its neighbours in the region. There is make special announcements on the preneurs, innovations in the funding still hesitation among most women brand and its significance. They landscape, Golden fiber and its appli - to take risks and feel that the Tatas would also say a few words about the cations, recycle and reuse of indus - and Birlas would not have been what coffee plantations in Araku Valley. trial waste, perspective of they are today had they not taken Aiming to improve the footfalls at the entrepreneurship through educa - calculated risks at the time of start - tourist places located around Araku tion, innovative finance, access to fi - ing their companies. Valley, a scheme of scratch cards is nance, besides presentations from The number of women entrepre - ready to be introduced. Accordingly, each country regarding the potential neurs in AP will also be the highest scratch cards would be given to every products for export. Director of the in the country as the 19 lakh self- passenger and two lucky passengers, Centre for Entrepreneurship Devel - help groups (SHG) formed by women along with their families, would get opment, Andhra Pradesh, Roopa will be converted into self-business free accommodation at Araku Valley Maganti, has put it rightly when she groups soon- , Ba.c cPorradbinhga tkoa trhae SCahriemf a for two nights and three days. The said that change in the mindset away Minister Chandrababu Naidu. department would pay Rs. 1.5 crorev from traditional thinking and to - to the airliner towards promotion of FEBRUwAaRrdYs 2 s0e1lf8 -employment is essential Araku Coffee for three months. 19 for women to become successful en - Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Relax FRBM Norms for AP CM Urges Centre

In a recent letter to the Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, the Chief Minister, Nara Chandrababu Naidu sought for routing funds of Externally Aided Projects (EAP) through NABARD as grant. He also urged the FM to ensure the funding should not fall within the limits set by Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. The CM reminded Jaitley of the centre’s assurance on the special assistance to AP. The centre assured the special assistance through special dispensation in the funding of EAPs. Prompting the same in the letter, the CM has suggested that Rs. 16,447 crore for five years i.e. (from 2015-16 to 2019-20) should be provided from NABARD. What if the disbursal of funds is made as grant through NABARD, instead of routing them as loans through external agencies? The Chief Minister had given an explanation for the proposal. Funds Please recall the special assistance measures an - through NABARD as grant would help the nounced to the State of Andhra Pradesh. It was an - State in cutting down delay in grounding nounced that the special assistance measures for and completing the projects. The letter Andhra Pradesh will be given by way of special dis - of CM also elaborated how the State pensation in funding of Externally Aided Projects(EAP) and the Central Government will pro - government arrived at the figures. vide special assistance measure to Government of Here is the verbatim of the letter. Andhra Pradesh, which would make up for the addi - tional Central share the State might have received during 2015-16 to 2019-20, if the funding of Cen - trally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) would have been shared at the ratio of 90:10 between the Centre and the State. The special assistance will be provided by FEBRUARY 2018 20 ANDHRA PRADESH MAGAZINEw.CayO oM f repayment of loan and interest for the Exter - nally Aided Projects (EAPs) signed and disbursed Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

The CM requested that special assistance at 90:10 ratio for Ex - ternally Aided Projects as being given to special category states may also be awarded to the state of Andhra Pradesh. This should be applied to all the ongoing projects and projects to be signed till 2019-20, he said.

In this connection I may bring to your notice that in pursuance of the above announcement, Government of A.P. have sent proposals for various proj - ects to Department of Economic Af - fairs, GoI under EAP. In this connection I would like to mention that the projects under EAP will con - sume lot of time for grounding and completing the projects, considering elaborated procedures involved in get - ting clearance, and approval from the external funding agencies. The State will not be in a position to consume the entire special assistance amount within the five years period ending with 2019-20, including the ongoing projects, which were signed after 2015-16. Therefore, it is suggested, that the special dispensation amount as ar - rived at para 2 above, may be pro - vided to the Andhra Pradesh for the specified projects from the NABARD instead of loans through External Agencies (EAP). The list of projects to be considered for through NABARD is during 2015-2016 to 2019-20 by the three years would be Rs.3,238 crores enclosed and it should be disbursed to State. (2017-18), Rs.3,673 crores (2018-19), the State as grant from Gol, so that this Accordingly State government com - and Rs.4,166 crores (2019-20). Thus it will not form part of State FRBM lim - puted the amount that State might is tentatively arrived at Rs.16,447 its. This will facilitate the State gov - have received in the ratio of 90:10 crores for five years i.e. from 2015-16 ernment for early commencement of under CSS and arrived at Rs.2,951 to 2019-20. the projects and to avail the special as - crores in 2015-16. Government of Apart from this, the Special Category sistant measures announced to our India arrived it as Rs.2,516 crores for States are eligible for grants under CSS State. This will enable to put the resid - 2015-16 by deducting the Central as well as Externally Aided Projects at uary State's finances on a firmer foot - Schemes and other schemes for which 90:10 ratio. Hence it is requested that ing as envisaged by the parliament sharing pattern is same for Special special assistance at 90:10 ratio for while passing the bifurcation Bill. Status and other States. Following the Externally Aided Projects as being With regards, same principle, the amount for the given to special category states may year 2016-17 has been arrived at also be awarded to the state of Andhra Yours Sincerely, v Rs.2,854 crores. Thus there is a Pradesh. This should be applied to all growth of 13.43% over the previous the ongoing projects and projects to FEBRUARY 2018 ANDHRA PRADESH MAGAZINE.COM 21 year 2015-16. Assuming the same be signed till 2019-20. (Nara Chandrababu Naidu) growth rate, the amount for remaining Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

AP needs more fiscal space

Yanamala to Arun Jaitley Yanamala in State Finance Ministers' pre-Budget meeting at New Delhi

State Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu appealed Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to address the concerns and the development needs of the states in the Union Budget 2018-19, in order to strengthen the spirit of co-operative federalism. In a memorandum submitted for Pre-Budget 2018-19, Ramakrishnudu sought to impress upon the Union Finance Minister on the need to provide additional fiscal space. Here is the letter in full.

Shri Arun Jaitley

To ten months of its existence. 2. Andhra Pradesh earnestly hopes that the Union Hon’ble Finance Minister, Budget 2018-19 make explicit provision for financ - Government of India. ing all covenants of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 as indicated in the package announced to Memorandum given by Shri Yanamala Ramakrish - Grant to bridge the Resource Gap: the State. The following key areas for immediate fi - nudu, Hon’ble Finance Minister, Government of "Central nancial assistance during the year 2018-19 and the Andhra Pradesh for Pre Budget 2018-19 Meeting to government shall provide appropriate grants having coming years. be held on 18.01.2018 regard to the resources available to the successor 3. State of AP for 2014- 15." The Section 46 The State Government of Andhra Pradesh earnestly (2) of APR Act 2014 has ordained that the appeals the Union Minister for Finance to address the concerns and the development needs of the States in the Union Budget 2018-19 in order to strengthen the spirit of co-operative Federalism. We 4. Notwithstanding this provision, we received an hope that the forthcoming budget he a catalyst to adhoc grant of Rs 3,979.50 crore, though the Ac - the growth and keeps up the momentum that has countant-General of Andhra Pradesh certified that been set in motion and help to launch the country on the revenue deficit for the period from June 02, 2014 the path to sustained double-digit growth. to March 31. 2015, was Rs 16,078.76 crore. 1. It is a fact that no State in our country is more de - 5. Further we have requested the GoI to consider the pendent on the generosity of the central government arrears of Rs. 5,325 crore to the pensioners and em - for its financial health than Andhra Pradesh, as irra - ployees from 2-6-2014 to 31-3-2015 due to imple - tional reorganisation of Andhra Pradesh State by the mentation of PRC, to arrive the total Revenue Deficit. UPA Government without concern for the economic 6. Government of India indicated that eFnEtiBtRleUmAeRnYt o2f018 22 and financial consequences has left Andhra Pradesh State government under Revenue Deficit grants is with a revenue deficit of Rs 16,079 crore in the first Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Rs. 4,117.89 crore only after adjusting the expendi - 11. Government of India is providing Rs. 3,500 crore for ture on New Schemes in 2014-15FY (i.e. Rs. this purpose. Rs. 2,500 crore were already received. 13,775.76 — Rs. 11,960.87 crore). But it was agreed Remaining amount of Rs. 1,000 crore may be re - to release Rs. 7,500 crore as revenue deficit grant. It leased in this financial year. may be appreciated that piecemeal release of instal - 12. Amaravati, in order to become the economic growth ments in small quantities may be of no use for a new engine, would require rail and road connectivity State. Therefore, we request that the remaining with all districts, especially Rayalaseema districts. In amount of Rs 12,099.26 crore may be released. At addition, the AP Reorganisation Act has assured least the balance of the agreed amount Rs. 3,520.50 Metro Rail projects to Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam crore (7,500- 3979.5) may be released in this finan - Incentives for Industrial Development: and Amaravati Cities and high-speed train connect - cial year. By any reason, if it cannot be done, the ing Visakhapatnam with Chennai. The Government same provision may be made in the 2018-19 Union “the central government shall take appropriate fiscal of India may provide financial assistance and techni - Budget. measures, including tax incentives, to promote indus - cal support required for commissioning these proj - 7. trialization and economic growth". SimilarlSy,e Sceticotnio 9n 4 ects. 4(16) ( o3f) tohfe t hAeP A Rcet ohragsa ennisjoaitnioend ,A "ctht e2 0Ce1n4t rsatal tGeosv tehran t - 13. It is also requested that the following incentives be ment shall, while considering the special development sanctioned for all industrial investments in the Ama - package for the successor State of Andhra Pradesh, ravati City region: a) 100% excise duty exemption provide adequate incentives, in particular for Ray - for a period of alaseema and north coastal regions of the State". 10 years from the date of commencement of com - mercial production; b) 100% income tax exemption for the initial period of five years and thereafter 30% for companies and 25% for other than companies for a further period of five years from the date of 8. While bridging the resource gap is critical to achieve commencement of commercial production; and c) the much-needed financial stability and help embark SupCpaopirtta lu invdeestrm Sepnte scuibasli dPya @ck 1a5g%e of their invest - on development trajectory, the State would require ment in plant & machinery, subject to a ceiling of one financial and institutional assistance from the Cen - crorc rupees. tral government to attract investments, stimulate in - dustrial development and revitalise the economy. Gol providing 15% additional accelerated deprecia - 14. The Central Government has announced a special as - tion and 15% additional investment allowance. sistance measure for Government of Andhra Pradesh 9. Further, in order to create an ecosystem for indus - for five years, which would make up for the addi - trial development and to translate the vision of tional Central share the State might have received Make in India into reality, we request you to create a during these years, i.e. 2015-16 to 2019-20, if the level playing field for Andhra Pradesh. In this direc - funding of CSS would have been shared at the ratio tion, Rs 1,500 crore may be provided in the Budget of 90:10 between the Centre and State. The special for Andhra Pradesh to develop industrial estates. assistance will be provided by way of repayment of Andhra Pradesh is making all possible efforts to be loan and interest for the Externally Aided Projects at the forefront of Make in India' Mission. This would (EAP) signed and disbursed during 2015-16 to Financial Assistance to Amaravati: help us realise the dream of our Country becoming 2019-20 by the State. the manufacturing hub of the world in the very near "special financial support for the 15. Accordingly State government computed the amount future. creation of essential facilities in the new capital of that State might have received in the ratio of 90:10 10. Andhra Pradesh State, including, the RaSje Bcthioanw 9an4, (3) under CSS and arrived at Rs. 2,951 crore in 2015-16. oHfi gthe C AouPrRt ,A Gcotv 2e0rn1m4 ehnats Saescsruerteadri tahta, Lt eGgoivsleartnivme eAns t- of Government of India arrived it as Rs. 2,516 crore for Isnemdibal wy, oLuegldis plartoiveid Ceo uncil, and such other essential 2015-16 by deducting the Central Schemes and infrastructure". other schemes for which sharing pattern is same for Special Status and other States. Following the same principle, the amount for the year 2016- 17 has FEBRUARY 2018 been arrived at Rs. 2,854 crore. Thus there is a 23 growth of 13.43% over the previous year 2015-16. Assuming the same growth rate, the amount for re - Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

maining three years would be Rs. 3,238 crore come the increased share of State governments in (2017-18), Rs. 3,673 crore (2018-19), and Rs. 4,166 central taxes from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. How - crore (2019-20). Thus it is tentatively arrived at ever, in reality the net transfer from the centre to the Rs. 16,447 crore for 5 years i.e. from 2015-16 to State has not been substantial. The increased devo - 2019-20. lution of central taxes given with one hand has been 16. Apart from this, the Special Category States are eligi - Funtdak fleno aww aoyf w CiAthM thPe ostchheer mhaneds in the form of di - ble for grants under CSS as well as Externally Aided minished share of central government in centrally Projects at 90:10 ratio. Hence it is requested that sponsored schemes. special assistance at 90:10 ratio for Externally Aided Projects as being given to special category states may also be awarded to the state of Andhra Pradesh. 21. Government of India insisting on depositing the This should be applied to all the ongoing projects funds relating to Centrally Aided State Plan Schemes and projects to be signed till 2019-20. in Bank Accounts after routing through the State Government Treasury. State government has re - 17. Government of A.P. has sent proposals for various quested to permit for depositing the same in the PD projects to Department of Economic Affairs, GoI A/cs, which are being operated by State Treasury under EAP. The projects under EAP will consume lot and can be operated through cheques. But some of time for grounding and completing the projects, Government of India departments dealing with SSA considering elaborated procedures involved in get - & RMSA etc., are insisting that it is mandatory to ting clearance, and approval from the external fund - place the funds in banks. Since Gujarat State has ing agencies. The State will not be in a position to made it mandatory that funds shall be placed at consume the entire special assistance amount Increasing Fiscal Space Treasury, this may be made universal for all within the five year period ending with 2019- 20, in - schemes, departments in all the schemes. cluding the ongoing projects, which were signed after 2015-16. 18. Therefore it is suggested, that the special dispensa - 22. Andhra Pradesh State is facing double jeopardy from tion amount as arrived at para 15 above, may be the financing perspective; the fragile financial situa - provided to the Andhra Pradesh for the specified tion is compounded by the increased need for public projects from the NABARD instead of loans through investment in infrastructure, public services, con - External Agencies (EAP). The list of projects to be struction of new capital city, etc. In this context, we considered for through NABARD is enclosed and it require a bigger borrowing space to which we are le - should be disbursed to the State as grant from Gol, gitimately entitled. The Fourteenth Finance Commis - so that this will form part of Central FRBM limits. sion (FFC) permitted an additional borrowing space This will facilitate the State government for early of 0.5% of GSDP to States with Debt-GSDP ratio of commencement of the projects and to avail the spe - less than or equal to 25 per cent in the preceding cial assistant measures announced to our State. This Polavaram Irrigation Project: year and interest payments being less than or equal will enable to put the residuary state's finances on a to 10% of the revenue receipts in the preceding year. firmer footing as targeted. Necessary provisions may However, this space is made available only to those be made in the Union Budget 2018-19. states that do not have revenue deficit in the year in 19. Section 90 of the AP which borrowing limits are fixed and in the immedi - Reorganization Act declared the Polavaram Irriga - ately preceding year. tion Project to be a National Project and made it in - 23. In the case of Andhra Pradesh, the revenue deficit is cumbent on the Union Government to complete this not our making, as it was imposed upon us by virtue project. We thank the Government of India for reim - of the State's reorganisation by the central govern - bursement expenditure to a tune of Rs. 4,329.06 ment and therefore is completely external to our crore till now. The total amount received from GoI State's financial management effectiveness. There - Centthrraolu gShu Ppoplaovratra tmo PSrtoajetcet' Asu Dtheovreitylo aps mNaetinotn al fore, we request the Union Government to make an IPmropjeacctt ios fR 1s4. 4th,3 F2i9n.0a6n cero Croe manmdi Rssi 3o,n2:17.63 crore exception and provide us with the much-needed ad - are to be reimbursed by GoI as on the date. ditional fiscal space duly waiving the norms.

With Regards, 20. We thank (Yanamala Ramakrishnudu) the Union Government for accepting the recommen - 24 FFiEnBaRnUceA MRYin 2is0t1e8r dations of 14th Finance Commission (FFC) and wel - Government of Andhra Pradesh Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Literary reminiscences Of GURAZADA APPARAO PANTULU

k- kOn gk ole Munisubrahmanyam

to put a crank in his place. I suggested the name of Mr. Ramanujachari. “Why not you?” asked Krishnaswami Iyer. I had no objectionex - cept on the score of frequent journeys to Madras. Yours affectionately,

P.S.: I learn that a firm of enterprising rascals is pirating popular publications. Someone tells me that on the Curator's list of registered Tawker’s Gardens, books my name appeared recently. But I dld nPoat erre’gsi sRtoera dan, y book. Royapettah, 1-7-1909.

Tawker’s Gardens, Royapettah, Madras, 24-6-09. My dear Munisubrahmanyam, I did send the book to you and along with it copies to three other friends. Two of them ac - knowledged the books. I think the postal peo - ple played some mischief. Please enquire. I My dear Munisubrahmanyam, sent you another copy today. Please write a re - By yesterday’s mail I sent you a copy of Kanya - view and send it to me. sulkam. Please write a review. I suppose you Give your opinion frankly, otherwise the re - have a copy of my Songs of Blue Hills. If so, re - view would be one-sided and valueless. You view that also along with my play, so that must learn to rely on your own judgement. It philistines may not say, “This man has written does not matter if we differ. An author finds in the spoken dialect because he cannot wield some justification, sound or unsound for what - the literary dialect with effect. Sour grapes!” ever he writes. Unfortunately the Registration Send on your review to me. I shall have it pub - Department is under a European now. And my lished. friends have no influence with him. What a disaster on the East Coast railway line! Can you come next Sunday and spend a day or I am afraid your district suffered the most. Is it two with me? I live at Tawker’s Bungalow in likely that the three carriages had, I mean, con - Royapettah. You may live with me. Will they tained only thirty persons in all? Old Rangaiah not give you a day’s leave? Chetti is a good man according to his own Yours affectionatevly, lights, I suppose. I mention him in the Preface. His death creates a vacancy in the Board of FEBRUARY 2018 Studies. I requested Mr. Krishnaswami Iyer not 25 Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in chief minister’s social network CM Chandrababu Naidu is an active social media user. Many of you have been actively following his activities with admiration. Here are a few snapshots from his Twitter account and those on him. w w w w w

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Snapshot

he Government of Andhra Pradesh is distribution system has made the whole exercise working relentlessly to ensure that welfare transparent and efficient. schemes reach the beneficiaries. Techno - Anywhere ration, that is ration portability, is also logical intervention for data integration is being implemented from May 2015. Through this also being done to signify a real time model of gov - measure, beneficiaries can draw food grains from ernance in the state. Now, in all the 13 districts of any ePos enabled FPS. About 6% of the cardholder Andhra Pradesh, people who rely on ration card have avialed portability benefits since its inception. supplies to cook daily meals can access their allot - he savings achieved during the process in Andhra ted rice, sugar, daal and wheat flour with an assur - Pradesh is to the tune of Rs 246 crore from 7,595 v ance of transparency. The Aadhaar-enabled public FP shops. FEBRUARY 2018 27

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CINEMA A slew of Telugu films are YOU & in the making in 2018 that are aimed at educating CHANGE FACTOR! the viewers about their How Telugu Films Are Diving Into right to vote and bring a change in the society.

POTo EdLucaIteT VieIweCrs S

Rajasekhar Reddy respectively. But beyond this, there are a bunch of other films that are aimed at educating the viewers about politics and questioning the status quo of current political system. Among the most awaited films of the year is Nandamuri Balakrishna starrer NTR, a biopic of the legendary actor and former CM NT Rama Rao. Directed by Teja, the film is said to be ‘a tribute to the legend who lived for the peo - ple and chosen by the people’. So far, neither Balakrishna nor Teja have spoken about the content of the film, but the film is expected to highlight NTR’s rise to fame through films and how he made his foray into politics which led to dramatic results in the early 80s. The ‘Chai - tanya Ratham’, a political journey undertaken by NTR, spanned for several months in 1982 and 1983, during which the actor-turned-politician covered nearly 75000 kms and addressed millions of people all over Andhra Pradesh. And buzz is that this particular segment in NTR’s life could be under the spotlight in the biopic as well. Moreover, the biopic is also a perfect platform to explain the origins of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and how it has had a huge impact on the lives of Telugu-speaking people in the past three and a half decades. Meanwhile, Mahi V Raghav, who recently made Anando Brahma, is also said to be making a biopic on the life of former CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy. Tentatively titled as ‘Yatra’, the film is said to be focusing on the ‘Pada Yatra’ undertaken by the erstwhile Congressman that led to a drastic change in his persona in the early 2000s that fi - nally led to his victory in the elections. Needless to say, the film is expected to be lapped by admirers of YSR, the former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, who ith the general elections set to keep poll - passed away in a tragic accident in late 2009. sters, politicians, businessmen, activists That’s not all. One of the much-awaited films this year is a and just about everyone else on their toes political drama, Bharath Ane Nenu, starring Mahesh in the latter half of the year, Telugu film in - Babu, which is gearing up for release in summer this year. dustry too is taking a shot at the political sphere in 2018. Directed by Koratala Siva, the film is set in undivided FEBRUARY 2018 28 Already, there are couple of biopics in the making on the Andhra Pradesh, and it stars Mahesh Babu as the Chief lives of former Chief Ministers NT Rama Rao and YS Minister of the state. Buzz is that the film will showcase

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The run-up to elections has almost always been a perfect stage to make a political statement for actors and directors. Back in 2014, Balakrishna starrer Legend too was a political drama that pitched the actor as a leader and man of the masses. While it didn’t explicitly feel like it was part of Balakrishna’s political campaign, the parallels that the film drew between Balakrishna, the actor, and Balakrishna, the politician, are unmistakable.

how a youngster transforms the state and motivates mil - any given state often offer us food for thought and help us lions of people to lead a better life. Then, there’s Vishnu gauge the pros and cons of the system itself. There’s no Manchu starrer Voter which takes a look at the state and denying that there’s still plenty of injustice that’s meted national politics from the perspective of a common man. out to the underprivileged segments of the society, and Meanwhile, in Tamil film industry too, there’s a lot hap - political dramas, in a subtle way, offer a glimmer of hope pening with Shankar and Kamal Haasan coming together that there’s a leader somewhere out there who’ll address for Indian 2, and Rajinikanth’s Kaala speaking about lives their views. So, when you see a character speaking in of the downtrodden, and bunch of other films addressing favour of farmers, who are struggling to clear their debts, the socio-political issues prevailing in the state. or women, who are fighting against all odds to run their The run-up to elections has almost always been a perfect family, you do understand that the story turns into a can - stage to make a political statement for actors and direc - vas to trigger a debate within us. tors. Back in 2014, Few people might Balakrishna starrer see this trend of Legend too was a making political dra - political drama that mas as opportunistic, pitched the actor as but then, such stories a leader and man of also need an audi - the masses. While it ence which is ready didn’t explicitly feel to grasp the message like it was part of that they try to drive Balakrishna’s politi - home. Will the biopic cal campaign, the of NTR imbibe a sub - parallels that the tle political message film drew between that could have a Balakrishna, the huge impact on the actor, and Balakr - minds of the view - ishna, the politician, ers? It’s not that sim - are unmistakable. ple, given the extent This year, RGV too to which NTR’s pop - has evinced interest ularity cuts across in making a film on political and social the lesser known barriers. And at the side of NTR, and al - same time, will the ready, the film has run into trouble. ‘padayatra’ of YSR make a difference in current scenario, Amidst all this, given the themes and lives of people that nearly a decade after he passed away? It’s hard to pin - these films are going to highlight, it brings us to ask an - point the effect it might have since the film tells a very hu - other question - Can cinema be a medium for change in mane story about how much a politician changed in the the society and a tool to educate the voters? After all, Tel - course of his journey. ugu cinema has always tilted in favour of being entertain - Whatever might be the case, it’s not just politicians and ing and a means to escape the reality of our lives. The their supporters that are taking the upcoming elections answer is, for the lack of a better word, tricky because its seriously. Everyone wants to be part of the debate. And FEBRUARefYf e2c0t 1is8 more likely to play at a subconscious level. films are no different. 29 Films that try to capture the politically-charged climate of - Hemanth Kumar C R Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in

Amazing Andhra Pradesh

Chandavaram Buddhist Mahastupa Only Hinayana stupa in India

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magine a travel, ending on a thor - written in Prakrithi language. Indi - tupa throw adequate glimpses of oughfare of National Highway, cating the Hinayana tradition, no the Buddhapada worship, Stupas, moves on a narrow road by an Buddha idol was found in the exca - Bodhi trees. A museum present at auto-richshaw, passes through a vations. Only one coin of Sathava - Chandavaram also comprises sig - bridlepath by a cart, later strolls on a hana king Sirisathakarni was nificant sculptures, relics including lane and halt halfway at boulevard, be - found. coins, black and red ware and in - fore reaching the picturesque site of According to eminent archeologist scriptions in the Brahmi script. historical importance through Dr. Veluri Venkata Krishna Sastry, Three Viharaas were found during trekking: is not the travel like a dream? Chinese Travellor Huyansang also the excavations in front of the Yes! Journey to Chandavaram Buddhist visited this Stupa in 7th Century Stupa. One Viharaa contained 19 Mahastupa, situated in the vicinity of on his way from Amaravati. rooms and two other Viharaas seamless avenues, lush green spreads Huyansang also confirmed that the were completely damaged. Two and floating clouds, is destination by it - Stupa in Chandavaram was built Chaityaas were also found in front self. by king Ashoka. Chuliya empire, of this Viharaas. Bricks, sand and Next in importance only to Sanchi referred to by Huyansang was limestone were used for construct - Stupa, Chandavaram Buddhist Mahas - nothing but Chola rulers who ing Viharaas. Broken pillars of six tupa is situated at a tiny village, Chan - ruled Kudapa and Kurnool in 7th feet each around the Stupa were davaram, on the bank of Gundlakamma Century. Based on the writing of carved with sculptures. Stupa, River, 10 kilometres away from Don - Huyansang it was very clear that Bodhi tree, Purna Kumbam and akonda railway station. The sculptural Buddha visited Andhra Pradesh. many Marble monuments found panels suggest the site as a timely rep - AMracrkhinitge Bcutdudrhaal' sS vciusiltp, Atushroakl a during excavations were kept in resentation of the early stages of Amar - Gburialtn Sdtuepuars in Amaravathi, Vengi the museum near the place of ex - avati School of Art dating to the period and Chandavaram. cavations. Emphasizing cultural between the 2nd century B.C and 2nd heritage, the Chief Minister century A.D. The remains of Buddhist N.Chandrababu Naidu was keen on rIHeilsictso, srciuclaplt uSriegsn airfie cwaindecse pread over improving the tourist infra - a hill, Singarakonda, four kilometres The ruins include a Maha Chaitya strucutre at Chandravaram and away from Chandavaram. with a dome of 1.6 meters height promote religious tourism by or - and a drum of 60 cms wide, a ganising package tours to the three-winged vihara. The bricks stupa. State Level Buddhist Con - Three hundred feet Chandavaram Bud - used in the construction of Chan - vention was held in Chandavaram dhist Stupa, was constructed above the davaram Stupa, which is of 40 me - and Buddhists from Tibet and Singarakonda hill. According to the ters width and 30 feet height, were Thailand attended the event. AP archeology department the Stupa was 18X9X5 inches. Government is taking more steps to make this as a biggest Heritage built in 2nd Century A.D. It is said to be The limestone panels on the dome and historical site. one of the 84,000 stupas built through - hanod dwrum t soec tiornes aof cthh e Mahas - out the country by Ashoka after Kalinga War. Another significance was By Road that Chandavaram stupa was only one Hinayana stupa found in India. Re - maining stupas were changed to Ma - hayana, the tradition which worships Buddha in idol. BIty is T lroacian ted 92 KM towards west from District head quarters On - In the year 1965 when some of the vil - gole. Guntur – Kurnool Highway. Get down at Vellampalli and from lagers were digging the mud they there Chandavaram is just 2 kilometers distance. found out large bricks and idols. They informed the government and the State archeology department took over the Get down at Dhonakonda railway station. Chandavaram is 14 kilo - responsibility in 1972. Excavations acmceotemrs dmistaondcea frtoimo hn ere and auto rickshaws are frequently were done four times, in which hun - available. dreds of small stupas and 15 big stu - pas, viharas, marble carvings and some v of the inscriptions were found. Dharma FEBRCUhAaRkYr a2m01, B8 odhi tree, throne and Purna Ongole, being district headquarters, has good number of hotels Kumbham were also unearthed during for accommodation. 31 excavations. The inscriptions were Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in HAPPENING AP

Student Is Amaravati Brand Ambassador ment postponed it. Meanwhile, arrangements for con - ducting the online examination for the 4,46,833 aspi - A girl student, Ambula Vaishnavi, who adopted two gov - rants were on. ernment schools and is making efforts to develop them, was appointed as Amaravati brand ambassador. A ninth standard student, Vaishnavi met the Chief Minister in New EO for Kanaka Durga Temple his office at the Secretariat recently to explain her ef - The State government posted IAS officer Dr. M Padma forts in developing the school in her village Mudinepalli. as Executive Officer of famed Kanaka Durga temple, lo - She has spent Rs 4 lakh so far on those schools. She also cated atop the Indrakeeladri hill. Padma, who has been donated Rs1 lakh for construction of Capital city Amara - serving as Managing Director of the A.P. Brahmin Wel - vati. Impressed with her gesture and philanthropic ac - fare Corporation Limited, will also hold full additional tivity, the CM decided to appoint her as Amaravati charge for the old post until further orders. After taking brand ambassador. charge, she said implementation of e-governance in all the departments in the temple would be ensured on Kakinada marine food exporter honoured the lines of Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD).Provid - ing hassle-free darshan of goddess to the devotees and Kakinada -based marine food exporter Devi Fisheries taking appropriate steps to perform rituals in the tem - Limited stood first in marine export value and frozen ple as per the Agamasastra were a few of her 'priori - shrimp exports at the national level and bagged awards ties'. from the Marine Products Exports Development Author - ity (MPEDA). Managing Director of the firm Yarlagadda U-14 team is South Zone champion Surya Rao received the awards from Union Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu and Goa Chief Minister Andhra Cricket Association teenage players won the Manohar Parikkar, at a programme organised in Goa re - South Zone u-14 championship that concluded in Kerala cently. The awards were presented to the best perform - recently. In the last match, Andhra beat Goa to top the ing marine food exporters for the fiscal 2016-17. table. This is third consecutive time that U-14 team topped the table, as the same feat was achieved in the earlier editions of 2015 and 2016. The performance of TET put off again Andhra throughout the tournament was consistent as The State government postponed the Teacher Eligibility the same eleven players played the five matches. Cap - Test dates again considering the pleas of the aspirants tain and middle-order batsman Sk. Rasheed (369) and the students’ organisations for time for preparation. emerged as the scorer while M. Mahendra Dev (247) Human Resources Development Minister Ganta Srinivas and K.S.S. Jayanth (168) were the other contributors. In in a release said the test would be conducted between the bowling department, G. Sumith was the pick of the February 21 and March 3. TET had actually been sched - bowler with 21 wickets. Sk. Rasheed was declared Man uled from February 5 to 15. But, the aspirants across of the Tournament by the Kerala Cricket Association. the State had sought postponement as the time for ACA announced a cash award of Rs. 2 lakhs to the team. preparation was short. Acting on the requests from the D.Ed 2016-18 batch students, the B. Tech graduates who Tomato Pest Research By WVC pursued Diploma in Education (D. Ed) and the Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.) seeking time, the State Govern - The World Vegetable Center (WVC), a Taiwan-based horticulture research forum, has come up with an eco-

Nara Lokesh receiving KIGA 2018 Lokesh receives KIGA Panchayat Raj & Rural Development (PR&RD) department of Andhra Pradesh won Kalam Innovation in Governance Award (KIGA) for exemplary development of rural areas and integration of technology in rural governance. PR&RD and IT Minister N. Lokesh received KIGA- 2018 during sec - ond edition of the summit and awards ceremony, held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi recently. “This is a testimony and a token of encouragement to work harder for devel - opment of the State,” Lokesh said in a tweet after receiv - ing the award. KIGA, which has been constituted by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Centre, an independent think tank based in New Delhi to recognize different sectors of governance.

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Kidambi Srikanth Padma Shri to Kidambi adminton player Kidambi Srikanth was conferred with the country's fourth highest civilian award- Padma Shri. ABmong the 85 Padma awards announced by the Central gov - ernment on the eve of Republic Day, Srikanth was the lone winner of Padma award from the State. Guntur-born shuttler was conferred with the award for his phenomenal success in a sport that is dominated by players from China and the East Asian countries. India’s champion Srikanth had a dream run last year winning four Super Series titles and also reached his career best ranking of World No. 2. Delighted on being con - ferred with the national award, the 24-year-old Srikanth said: “I am very happy to receive this prestigious Award. And it will only inspire and motivate me to do well in future.”

friendly pest management system in Madanapalle re - massive open online course ‘Do Your Venture’ during gion. It embarked on the ambitious mission of putting January 22-March 3 and hold a boot-camp. Nearly 300 an end to the menacing pest ‘tuta absoluta’ which is ventures will be short-listed for a boot-camp. found to be affecting the large expanses of tomato farms in the region, considered the largest tomato- Vizianagaram in Limca Book of Records growing belt in India. The WVC scientists from its Hyder - Active participation of people, officials and policy mak - abad chapter have launched research into the pest, ers made Vizianagaram district find a place in Limca obtaining successful results in recent weeks. A Ger - Book of Records. District authorities achieved to con - many-based trade organisation is also involved in ex - struct 10,000 toilets in 100 hours in March last. The feat tending the logistics to the research. Currently, the was entered in the latest records of Limca Book, which research was grounded in four experiment farmlands in was released recently. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ramasamudram, Palamaner, Nimmanapalle and had appreciated the district administration for achieving Madanapalle mandals. The tomato growers in large the target in his ‘Man ki Baat’ programme on All India numbers showed much interest in the experiment, ex - Radio. pecting the laboratory success to reach their fields. Made in AP Drone Launched SVU student in CAT-2017 toppers An engineering graduate from SVU’s College of Engi - Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu launched a drone neering K. Sreekanth Naidu secured 99.76 percentile in jointly manufactured by the AP Innovation Society and Common Admission Test (CAT) 2017. After engineering Omnipresent Robot Tech, at the Collectors’ conference in the discipline of Electronics and Communications, he held recently. The drone was made in Visakhapatnam appeared for CAT 2017. He secured 99.76 percentile and and it would be first deployed for capturing the emerged one of the toppers. He received interview calls progress of rural roads and used for other applications from IIM Calcutta and IIM Kozhikode. in due course. Branded as ‘Amaravati drones,’ they have an endurance of 40 minutes and can carry payloads of up to one kg, and they could be custom-made to suit EAMCET commences from April 22 the requirements of various user departments. Besides, Common entrance test for admission into engineering by using the drones for training purpose, the State could courses (APEAMCET) will commence on April 22. The generate revenue. entrance test will be held in three days and six sessions. The test for admission into medicine (Bi.P.C) will be held IIMV inks pact with IIMB on April 26. JNTU-Kakinada will host the tests. Minister for Human Resources Development Ganta Srinivasa Rao Indian Institute of Management-Visakhapatnam (IIMV) recently released the schedule of the entrance tests. Be - has partnered with the IIM- Bangalore by signing a MoU ginning with the common entrance test for admission to promote nationwide women startup programme. into B.Ed courses (APEDCET) on April 19, the CETs would IIMV’s participation is expected to facilitate the growth end on May 4. The APLAWCET would be held on April of women entrepreneurs by providing in-depth training 2018, followed by EAMCET (engineering and medicine), to foster and augment managerial and entrepreneurial APICET (management courses) and APECET for the stu - skills through mentoring, incubation and financial sup - dents who completed polytechnic and are aspiring for port. The initiative launched recently is funded by Gold - the engineering course. Entrance test for admission into man Sachs and the Department of Science and PG courses in engineering would be held by Andhra Uni - Technology, Government of India. The programme aims versity during the period between May 10 and May 12. at imparting training to over 12,000 women by offering v

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ANDHRA STUDENTS Hoist Record Size Conquer Kilimanjaro National Flag on Peak

Minister Nakka Anand babu fecilitated APSWREIS team accomplished Mount Kilimanjaro expedition

team of students from marginalised sections, feet,” coach and team leader Raghunand said. studying in the schools run by the Andhra According to the Secretary of APSWREIS, Col. Ramulu, the Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational earlier record on Kilimanjaro was hoisting of 600 sq ft. In - Institutions Society (APSWREIS) made it possi - dian national flag. First time, a 15-member team has col - ble to trek Africa’s highest peak (19,341 feet) Kilimanjaro lectively climbed this mountain peak and ten of them are thatF ciornssti sttism ofe f,ive contrasting ecosystems. A 15-member girls, he further said. team, 10 of them were teenage girls, successfully reached The expedition is part of the APSWREIS ‘Mission Impossi - ath 1e5 s-ummmemit obf ethr e mountain and hoisted a 1350 sq ft Na - ble’ programme designed to promote love of adventure team has tional Flag, which set a new record. and spirit of camaraderie among the students. collectively The group took the Machame route. “With repeated success in mountain expeditions, we hope This trail was considered difficult, climbed this to see more students coming forward to take up the activ - steep and challenging, particularly ity that will expose them to new terrains not just physi - mountain peak due to its shorter itinerary. This cally but also on the mental plane,” said Col. Ramulu. and ten of them route, it is said, is better suited for are girls. more adventurous folks or those with Minister for social welfare Nakka Ananda Babu congratu - some hiking experience. The route lated the students, teachers and the coach upon the approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from achievement when they met him in his chambers recently. the south. The Machame route, which The team included 10 girls S Sirisha, K Ramyasri, B In - the team had taken, traverses dirabai, Y Kavita, C Padmavathi, K Mahalakshmi, G through high alpine desert that also Hemalatha, B Suneetha, K Ammulu and MC Mahalakshmi presents a magnificent view of ice fields. This tough route and five boys, D Lakshman, B Ramesh, V Srikanth, D Kr - is also known as ‘Whisky Route.’ The Machame route is ishna Kumar and B Suresh. Sekhar Babu and Paramesh about 62 kilometres to and fro. Kumar were also the coaches for the team and Neelima v was the guide to the expedition. Another team of 20 stu - “The first two days are critical due to the drastic change FEBRUARY 2018 34 in the elevation where they trek to Shira Camp located at dents is being trained for a Mount Everest expedition in Aan altitude of 12,500 feet from Machame Gate’s 5,400 May this year. Downloaded from http://SmartPrep.in IN PICS

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Pic 1: CM Chandrababu Naidu participated in the Awametha Mahayagnam, being solemnised by the Akhila Bharata Gayatri Parivar, at Mangalagiri. Pic 2: The CM launched the Amaravati chapter of Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) 5 Pic 3 : The CM felicitated Sai Satvika from Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayam (KGBV) Atloor, Kadapa for securing third rank in International Science Olympiad. Pic 4 : A group of priests from TTD and Kanaka Durga Temple blessed the CM couple on New Year at their resi - dence in Vijayawada Pic 5 : CM visited Tirumala temple with members of family on Makara Sankranti.

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Regd. No. H-HD-1082/2016-18 APENG/2007/20679 Published on: 01/02/2018 Posting Dt: 6th

Governor ESL Narasimhan receiving a guard of honour on 69th Republic Day celebrationsat Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) stadium, in Vijayawada.