CM Chandrababu Announces Rs 250-Crore Mission to Strengthen Tribal Healthcare

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday outlined a wide-ranging development agenda for Andhra Pradesh’s tribal and remote regions, with a focus on universal healthcare, improved infrastructure, livelihood opportunities and skill development.

Addressing reporters at Ganneli village, Naidu said his government was committed to ensuring that people living in hilly and inaccessible areas could access quality medical services without having to travel long distances. He said the ‘Sanjeevani’ programme, aimed at digitising health records, had the potential to become a major transformation in healthcare not only in Andhra Pradesh but across the country.

The government has also initiated plans to use drones to transport blood samples from tribal areas to major hospitals, helping improve the speed of diagnosis and treatment. A Rs 250-crore Tribal Health Infrastructure Completion Mission is being implemented to strengthen medical facilities in tribal regions, he said.

Naidu said infrastructure development was progressing alongside healthcare initiatives, with 900 kilometres of roads built at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore in tribal areas. Tap water connections have been provided to 1.6 lakh families, while rooftop solar power units are also planned for households.

Turning to livelihoods, the Chief Minister said the government was promoting the expansion of Araku coffee cultivation by another one lakh acres to raise incomes among tribal communities. Growing tourist arrivals in the Araku region could also create new opportunities through the expansion of homestay services, enabling tribal families to earn additional income.

The government aims to provide skill training to one lakh youth over the next three years, particularly to help tribal youngsters secure employment in industries expected to come up in Alluri Sitarama Raju district.

Naidu also announced that Godavari water would reach Anakapalli through the Polavaram Left Canal on September 2.

Launching a political attack on the previous YSRCP government, the Chief Minister accused it of damaging the state and its institutions. He also alleged that thousands had lost their lives due to adulterated liquor during the previous government’s tenure and claimed there were irregularities in the 2018 Group-I examination.