Naidu Urges Officials to Drive Economic Revival with Targeted Policies, Sets 15% Growth Goal

On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu called on officials from various departments to work diligently towards revitalizing the state's economy, setting an ambitious goal of achieving a 15% growth rate. During a review meeting on the progress of agriculture, industry, services, and allied sectors, Naidu voiced concern over the decline in nearly all sectors, attributing it to the "destructive" policies of the previous administration.

Naidu emphasized the importance of implementing the new policies introduced by his government, urging officials to take immediate action to spur economic growth. He also stressed that the primary objective should not only be to enhance living standards and improve the state’s economy but to do so without imposing additional financial burdens on the public. The Chief Minister highlighted that reducing farming costs through mechanization could significantly improve the agricultural sector.

Reflecting on Andhra Pradesh's past performance, Naidu noted that the state had achieved a growth rate of 13.7% between 2014 and 2019, despite the challenges posed by the bifurcation of the state. However, he lamented that the growth rate had since declined to 10.59% under the YSRCP government.

In 2019, the growth rate gap between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh was a mere 0.20%, but by 2024, this had widened to 1.5%. Naidu also pointed out that per capita income growth under the previous TDP government was 13.21%, but it had fallen to 9.06% under the YSRCP, which he said had negatively impacted the living conditions of the population.

The Chief Minister urged officials to take swift action, noting that Andhra Pradesh currently ranks fifth in the southern region in terms of per capita income. He stressed the need for a clear strategic vision to close the gap and improve economic conditions across lagging sectors.

Naidu also announced plans to introduce the P-4 system in January, encouraging the wealthiest members of society to uplift at least 10% of the population. In addition to the state’s welfare initiatives, he called on affluent individuals and organizations to mentor and support the underprivileged, enhancing efforts to improve living standards across the state.