Latest news with #PradhanMantriAdarshGramYojana
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
17 civic bodies to be declared plastic-free by October: AP Chief Secretary Vijayanand
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Secretary K Vijayanand revealed that appropriate steps are being taken to make all government offices in the State plastic-free. He held a video conference with Collectors and officials of related departments from the Secretariat on Thursday, discussing issues such as Swarnandhra P-4 Foundation, Swarnandhra, Swachhandra, MSME parks, and Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana. Speaking on the occasion, the CS said that steps are being taken to control single-use plastic items in a phased manner. By next October, 17 municipal corporations will be declared plastic-free. He added that steps will be taken to ban plastic items in all government offices across the State. Vijayanand said that the government has launched the Swarnandhra P-4 Foundation programme with the noble goal of eradicating poverty and eliminating economic inequalities in society. The government has set a target of adopting 15 lakh Bangaru Kutumbalu in the State by August 15 under this initiative. He instructed Collectors to pay special attention to the successful implementation of Swarnandhra P-4. He also mentioned that 1,027 villages have been selected under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, of which 765 villages have already been declared model villages under the Village Development Plan (VDP). Regarding MSME Parks, Vijayanand said it is a Centrally sponsored scheme implemented with World Bank financial assistance. He directed Collectors to take appropriate steps in its implementation.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Efforts on to make govt offices plastic-free: CS
Vijayawada: Chief secretary K Vijayanand announced that the state government is taking decisive steps to make all government offices plastic-free. During a video conference with district collectors and officials on Thursday, he discussed key initiatives, including the Swarnandhra P-4 Foundation, Swachhandhra, MSME parks, Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, and population management. Vijayanand stressed a phased approach to control single-use plastics, with a goal to declare all 17 municipal corporations plastic-free by October. He directed officials to ban plastic items in government offices statewide and launch extensive public awareness campaigns about the environmental harm caused by single-use plastics, particularly air and water pollution. He urged district collectors to engage plastic manufacturers to ensure compliance and promote eco-friendly alternatives. The Swarnandhra P-4 Foundation, aimed at eradicating poverty and reducing economic disparities, was a key focus. The government has set a target to adopt 15 lakh Bangaru Kutumbams (golden families) by August 15. So far, 19.17 lakh Bangaru Kutumbams have been identified, with 5.2 lakh adopted by Margadarshis (mentors). Vijayanand stressed maintaining high standards in identifying families and mentors, urging collectors to ensure the program's success by encouraging financially capable Margadarshis to participate. On population management, Vijayanand described the population as an asset and highlighted the recent draft population policy. He instructed collectors to follow the policy's calendar of events to implement effective measures. Under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, 1,027 villages have been selected as model villages, with 765 already declared under the Village Development Plan (VDP). The chief secretary directed collectors to expedite efforts to declare the remaining 262 villages as model villages. Each model village will receive a Rs 20 lakh gap-filling grant from the central government for infrastructure development, supplemented by additional funds through convergence, potentially reaching Rs 80 lakh per village. Collectors were urged to prioritise these efforts to enhance rural infrastructure. The chief secretary also discussed the MSME Parks and RAMP (Rising and Accelerating MSME Performance) programme, a centrally-sponsored scheme supported by the World Bank. He instructed collectors to ensure its effective implementation and promote circular economy clusters to foster sustainable industrial growth. Additionally, the conference explored the use of AI chatbot technology to enhance government employee efficiency, signaling a move toward digital innovation in governance. These initiatives reflect the state's commitment to environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure development, with district collectors tasked to drive their successful execution.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
17 Municipal Corporations will be declared as plastic-free by next October, says CS
Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand has said that steps are being taken to declare 17 Municipal Corporations as plastic-free corporations by next October and the drive is also under way in all government offices. During a video-conference with District Collectors on the implementation of various programmes on Thursday, Mr. Vijayanand said awareness should be created about the harm posed by single-use plastic items, and called upon the manufacturers to pay due attention to curb the menace. He said the government has launched the Swarnandhra P-4 Foundation program for eradicating poverty and eliminating economic inequalities in the society, and that the Collectors should strive to make it a success. Also, he stressed the need for proper implementation of the population policy, the draft of which was released a few days ago, given the consideration of population by the government as an asset. Adarsh Gram Yojana Mr. Vijayanand said that 1,027 villages have been selected under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana, of which 765 have already been declared as model villages as per the Village Development Plans. He directed the Collectors to work towards declaring the remaining 262 villages as model villages at the earliest. The Central government would provide ₹20 lakh as a gap-filling grant to each selected village for the creation of infrastructure. Drawing attention to the Rising and Accelerating MSME Performance program, the Chief Secretary said it was a World Bank-supported Centrally Sponsored Scheme and Collectors should make it a success.
