We honoured our promise on RDT: Minister Savitha

Andhra Pradesh BC Welfare Minister S. Savitha on Sunday stated that the government has kept its promise by ensuring the renewal of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) clearance for the Rural Development Trust (RDT) , which has been supporting the poor in Anantapur district for decades.

Speaking to the media at the Assembly premises along with MLAs Paritala Sunitha, Palle Sindhura Reddy, MS Raju and Bangaru Sravani, she described the restoration of foreign funding approvals earlier stalled due to technical reasons as a positive development , achieved through the special initiative of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , Union Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu , and Minister Nara Lokesh .

The Minister noted that for the past 60 years , RDT has been transforming the lives of the underprivileged and weaker sections in the erstwhile Anantapur district. Founded by Spanish couple Vincent Ferrer and Anne Ferrer , who were moved by the region’s backwardness, the organisation has provided education, healthcare, and housing to thousands. She also highlighted that RDT has supported farmers with modern tools and land, and has produced international-level athletes .

She praised the RDT Super Speciality Hospital , calling it a boon for pregnant women and poor patients , as it reduces the need to travel to cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad for emergency treatment.

Savitha said that when the issue of hurdles in foreign funding came to their notice, the Chief Minister, along with MLAs and MPs, took it up with Minister Nara Lokesh. Lokesh promptly intervened and coordinated with the Union Home Ministry , as well as the offices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah , to secure the necessary approvals. “As promised on this very platform eight months ago, we have removed the obstacles to funding,” she said, adding that Union Minister Ram Mohan Naidu had consistently followed up on the matter.

Alleges credit grabbing by YSRCP

The Minister criticised the previous YSRCP government , stating that it had failed to address the issue when RDT’s funding was stalled. She termed it “ridiculous” that the YSRCP is now claiming credit after the coalition government secured the approvals. Accusing the party of making a habit of “credit grabbing,” she asserted that people are aware of the facts and urged that politics should not be played over welfare initiatives for the poor .