Hyderabad: On the request of Chief Minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Government of India sanctioned Rs.180 crores for six more districts of Andhra Pradesh and these districts are also now included under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Selected Tribal and Backward Districts. Member-Secretary of the Planning Commission of India, Ms. Sudha Pillai in a special message to the Chief Secretary informed that Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Warangal, Karimnagar, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram have been included under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) and that Rs.180 crs. i.e. Rs.30 crs per each district for 2011-12 will be released one instalment for the remaining three months. The Chief Minister thanked the Government of India for including six more district of Andhra Pradesh under the IAP out of 18 districts selected in the entire country.

It may be recalled that the districts of Khammam and Adilabad have already been included under the IAP. The District Collectors are advised to call for a meeting of the Committee headed by the District Collector and consisting of Superintendent of Police and District Forest Officer. The Chief Minister, it may be stated here, took up the issue during the last Chief Ministers' conference on law and order with Government of India. The Chief Minister also met the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and also requested him to include these six districts under the IAP. Under the scheme various development activities will be taken up in these districts. Laying of roads, construction of school buildings, hostels, Anganwadi centres, hospitals, rural electrification and other works will be taken up. The scheme which is already implemented in Khammam and Adilabad district, road works to the tune of Rs.1,000 crs have been taken up under Central assistance.

The Integrated Action Plan will pave the way for alround development of these eight districts. It will also result in weaning away the unemployed youth belonging to the poor and downtrodden from being attracted to extremist ideology. The programme has already proved to be a success in the districts where it is being implemented. The eight districts in the State will achieve higher growth and overall peace and development once the scheme is implemented.