Telugu Desam Party

ble prices and achieve empowerment of women, youth and all backward segments of society in Andhra Pradesh. The preamble of the TDP was to provide a welfare state based on the basic tenets of social justice and equality for all. “Society is a temple and People are deities, Dr NTR had asserted repeatedly. It has also been top on the Agenda of the regional party since its inception to fight against the corruption in public life manifested by the congress party and also strive to achieve a cohesive and workable coordination with all non-congress opposition parties in the state and as well in the country to realize that above goal. Promoting minority welfare and perusal of a secular policy besides preservation of Indian constitution and traditions of democracy by taking the administration to door steps of the people was also the guiding principle of Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu ever since he took on the mantle of the party in 1995. TDP became the bulwark of administrative, economic and power reforms in the country and initiated majority of far reaching programmes with World Bank aid to build a skilled manpower pool and also efficient administration systems so that fruit of development programes could reach the real poor. Unlike other regional and national political entities TDP believed in the dictum that a strong fourth estate and an empowered forum of electronic and print media was an essential ingredient of a prosperous and healthy society and as such promoted an environment for growth of a free and fair Press freedom in the state. Salient features of the vision for Andhra Pradesh as lay down by Dr NT Rama Rao and successor Sri Nara Chandrababu Naidu are :

Promote all round recognition for Telugu culture, literature and Language. Promote Agriculture as a profitable and revenue making activity in villages with adequate support of technology, finances, subsidies and marketing. Provision of remunerative prices for agriculture produce with MSP for many staple and commercial goods. Preservation of natural resources like water minerals - greenery, environment protection for benefit of future generations. Youth empowerment through skill training for educated rural youth, cultural and sports activities in rural areas to wean them away from left wing influence and also village factions. More financial powers to Local self bodies from Village to Mandals - Zilla Parishads - Municipalities - Municipal corporations. Farmer focused welfare and development programs for all round development of villages with institutional support rural electrification-rural roads and rural health care. Promote value added education system to make future citizens not only well informed but also prepared for tasks ahead with private participation. Empowerment of women to become instruments of economic activity in rural areas - with 50 % reservation in elected and constitutional bodies. Housing programs for rural and urban poor with subsidies and promotion of wage labour and input components. Cheap Rice to provide two meals a day to below poverty line families besides subsidized rates for essential commodities through National Public Distribution System. Electoral reforms - anti defection law - root out black money in elections and corruption free India. Administrative reforms - to usher in e-governance to regulate and streamline - rationings, pensions, scholarships - cheap loans to women, farmers and self-employed. Youth promotion in sports, skill development, political training classes - cultural and grass root development programs. Empowerment of traditional artisans, weavers and other rural occupational communities with finance and training in skills. Promotion of minor and medium irrigation, micro irrigation to benefit farmers in dry and arid regions of the state. To introduce a comprehensive health care system in government sector to enable access of super specialty treatment to rural poor. Equitable share in budget allocation for Muslim and Christian minority for their all round growth in education, health, employment and culture.