MSP for mangoes becomes major political flashpoint in Chittoor district
During the visit, Naidu promised immediate and long-term measures to resolve the pricing crisis. In response, YSRCP leaders announced that party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy would visit Bangarupalem on July 9 to console mango farmers.
Reacting swiftly, Naidu on July 3 convened an immediate meeting with mango farmers and processing unit owners at his Kuppam residence. He reiterated the coalition government's commitment to supporting farmers, and instructed officials to work on a permanent marketing strategy.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister shot off a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging the removal of GST on mango processed products to support the industry and benefit farmers. He emphasised collaboration between farmers and processors.
TDP leaders in Chittoor escalated their attack on the opposition, accusing YSRCP leaders of failing to support mango farmers when they were in power. Chittoor MLA Gurajala Jagan Mohan, Puthalapattu MLA Murali Mohan, and former MLC Dorababu alleged that leaders like Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and Bhumana Karunakar Reddy owned more than 15 mango processing units, and had not ensured support prices during their tenure. Meanwhile, YSRCP has begun mobilising workers across the 14 Assembly constituencies of the erstwhile Chittoor district for Jagan's scheduled visit. A helipad has been finalised on private farmland in Bangarupalem for the event.
Amid the political tug-of-war, the State government has stepped up efforts to address farmers' concerns. On Saturday, Food Processing, Industries & Commerce Principal Secretary Chiranjivi Chaudhary and District Collector Sumit Kumar held a review meeting with farmers and pulp unit owners.
Chaudhary encouraged bulk sale of mango-based products at public gatherings, and reiterated the State's push for GST exemption. He also urged processors to provide the MSP of Rs 8 per kg of mangoes, and the State's additional incentive of Rs 4 to ensure fair compensation for farmers. As political temperature rises, it is to be seen whether the government's efforts can bring relief to mango growers or not.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Irregularities in solar pump project implemented by Anert, alleges Ramesh Chennithala
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress working committee (CWC) member Ramesh Chennithala on Wednesday demanded a detailed investigation into the irregularities in the Rs 240-crore tender to make grid-connected agriculture pumps solar under PM-Kusum scheme. After releasing documents, including the sanction order from Union ministry, Chennithala said there was an increase of over Rs 100 crore in total project cost and a misappropriation of more than Rs 100 crore in obtaining a loan of Rs 175 crore from Nabard. Agency for new and renewable energy research and technology (Anert) was given the order by Union ministry of new and renewable energy in May 2022 to convert 9,348 agricultural pumps to solar. Meanwhile, electricity minister K Krishnankutty instructed additional chief secretary of energy department to investigate the allegations of irregularities and submit a report. He said no one responsible for any irregularities found in the investigation would be protected. Appropriate further actions will be taken after receiving the investigation report, he said. There were irregularities on many counts, Ramesh alleged. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo "The Rs 240-crore tender was scrapped after technical and financial bids were opened, the lowest bidder was allowed to withdraw and there were irregularities in accepting the financial bid in the second tender. Work orders were given to companies that didn't mention amounts in bids, grading was not followed in converting solar pumps and pumps were set up at 146% more than the benchmark set by govt of India. State govt returned around 85% of the subsidy to Centre," he said. Chennithala said the irregularities began when Anert CEO, who is authorised to call tenders worth up to Rs 5 crore, invited a tender for Rs 240 crore. "It needs to be clarified how such a high-value tender was called without govt's written approval," he said. Irregularities occurred throughout the entire process, he alleged. "After a company submitted its tender, they were given the opportunity for revisions and were issued a work order," he said, adding that govt should explain how changes were allowed after opening the tender. "Most contracts were awarded at more than double the benchmark amount set by central govt for installing such pumps. There is a difference ranging from Rs 1-3 lakh in contracts for various solar projects from 2-10 kilowatts. This resulted in a difference of nearly Rs 100 crore in total project cost," he alleged. The approval and corruption involved in causing such a significant difference should be investigated, he added. "This misappropriation was carried out by taking a loan of Rs 175 crore from Nabard. Grading was implemented for companies to ensure error-free project execution. It is understood that contracts were awarded to companies that didn't qualify. Contracts were given to companies without grading at the same amount as the one quoted by the lowest bidder," he said. An investigation into all these irregularities should be ordered by removing Anert CEO, Chennithala said.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
Nara Lokesh Slams Gender Stereotypes In Textbooks, Calls For Curriculum Overhaul
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Human Resource Development Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Lokesh, has called for a sweeping review of school textbooks in the state, flagging what he described as "deeply embedded gender stereotypes" in early childhood education. In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Lokesh said that primary school content often portrays women in limiting roles and reinforces traditional biases that should have no place in modern classrooms. "In our Class 1, Class 2 textbooks, you will find women doing the household work and the man reading the newspaper. These are stereotypes," Lokesh said. "We are unconsciously reinforcing these roles in our children's minds." The remarks come ahead of a state-wide initiative called Taliki Vandanam under the TDP's education outreach programme. Lokesh said his party, if elected to power in Andhra Pradesh, will take steps to ensure that the curriculum reflects "respect, equality, and neutrality" in how gender is represented. The Education Reform The push to reform textbooks is part of a wider education plan by the TDP, which has been sharply critical of the YSRCP government's handling of public schooling. Lokesh said the TDP is focused on both improving academic infrastructure and embedding social values early in the schooling system. He also took aim at cultural language norms that subtly perpetuate gender biases. "We've taught our teachers and parents that saying things like 'don't cry like a girl', or 'are you wearing bangles?' is very wrong," Lokesh said. "If a child cries, say 'don't cry like NTR', who never cried - make it gender neutral." Such phrases, he argued, may seem trivial but have a lasting psychological impact on how children view themselves and others. A Broader National Context Gender representation in education has been an ongoing debate across India. The National Curriculum Framework 2023, introduced under the New Education Policy (NEP), acknowledges the need to make textbooks free from stereotypes, but implementation at the state level remains uneven. In Andhra Pradesh, the issue has not seen large-scale public discourse until now. Lokesh's comments are likely to resonate among educationists and child rights activists, especially as Andhra Pradesh prepares for its Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting (PTM) 2.0, a state-wide outreach programme aiming to involve nearly 2 crore stakeholders. The TDP, under Lokesh's leadership, appears to be positioning education not only as a policy priority but also as a space to redefine social norms.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Our border is with Tibet, not China: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu takes swipe at Beijing
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu (File photo) Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,200km border with Tibet, not China, chief minister Pema Khandu declared Wednesday in a surgical swipe at Beijing for repeatedly laying claim to the northeastern state, and also creating what he called a ticking "water bomb" in the form of the world's largest dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra in India) river. "Officially, yes, Tibet is under China now. That can't be ruled out... but originally we shared a border with Tibet," he told PTI in Delhi on his way back from the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration in Dharamshala. "In Arunachal Pradesh, we share three international boundaries - with Bhutan approximately 150km, with Tibet... and on the eastern side, with Myanmar approximately 550km." Khandu, in his third consecutive term as CM and credited with strengthening BJP's hold on the state, made the remarks while seeking to "correct" the interviewer the moment he referred to Arunachal Pradesh bordering China. Pointing to China's "forcible" occupation of Tibet in 1950, Khandu said that if one looked at India's map, "none of the Indian states directly shares borders with China". The CM's statement comes amid China's intensified bid to stamp its authority on the Dalai Lama's succession. Union minister and fellow Arunachal Pradesh native Kiren Rijiju, said recently that the decision on who should be the Dalai Lama's successor should be solely his and in accordance with established Tibetan Buddhist convention. No government, including China's communist regime, should have a say, he said. On the dam China is building on the Yarlung Tsangpo, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, Khandu warned that the project poses an 'existential threat' to Arunachal and its neighbouring northeastern states. He termed it 'a bigger issue' than anything else other than the Chinese 'military threat' hanging over the region. Khandu said Beijing not being a signatory to any international water treaty meant it 'cannot be trusted'. 'No one knows what they might do... Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, our entire Siang belt would be destroyed. The Adi tribe and similar groups would suffer devastating effects,' he said. The CM said that after discussions with the Union government, Arunachal Pradesh conceived the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project as a bulwark against China's intentions. 'Since we cannot make China see reason, it is better that we focus on our own defence mechanisms and preparations,' he told PTI.
