AP goes for paperless governance from Jan 15

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday issued firm directives to ensure complete utilisation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) funds by January 15, setting an ambitious target of mobilising and spending Rs 30,000 crore to accelerate development and service delivery across Andhra Pradesh. Chairing the 5th District Collectors’ Conference at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister expressed serious concern over underutilisation of central funds and warned against any delays.

Presenting a detailed review, Finance (Budget & Internal Finance) Secretary Dr D. Ronald Rose, said the State is currently implementing 75 CSS schemes with a Government of India allocation of Rs 15,173 crore and a matching State contribution of Rs 9,340 crore. He explained that funds are being routed through the State Nodal Agency (SNA) system and the SPARSH mechanism to prevent idle balances and ensure need-based releases.

Dr Rose highlighted that while schemes such as Samagra Shiksha and Health System Strengthening have recorded utilisation above 85 per cent, PMAY Urban remains a major concern, with only 38 per cent utilisation despite Rs 1,268 crore being available. Other schemes requiring urgent focus include Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, with 55 per cent utilisation. 

The Chief Minister noted that Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has assured an additional Rs 1,200 crore allocation and set January 15 as a non-negotiable deadline to fully spend existing PMAY Urban funds. “No compromise on spending central money. Every single rupee should be spent,” he asserted.

Chandrababu Naidu directed Collectors to closely monitor civil works, summon contractors every ten days and blacklist non-responsive agencies. He also ordered expedited completion of departmental audits and corrective action on unclaimed deposits of about Rs 155 crore lying in dormant government accounts across districts.

In a parallel push for governance reform, the government announced a complete transition to paperless administration. IT, Electronics and Real Time Governance Secretary Bhaskar Katamneni, said that all government files will be processed exclusively as e-files, with physical files discontinued. From January 15, all public services will be delivered online, with Manamitra WhatsApp Governance designated as the primary citizen interface.

The Secretary said blockchain-enabled AP DigiVerify has eliminated physical certificate verification, while RTGS Data Lake and AWARE dashboards will drive data-based decision-making. Collectors were asked to strengthen grievance redressal and lead the digital transformation to ensure transparent, efficient and citizen-centric governance across the State.

‘Speed of Governance to be new benchmark’ 

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday asserted that the Andhra Pradesh government is firmly focused on putting the state back on a high-growth trajectory and positioning it among the country’s leading states. Chairing the fifth District Collectors’ Conference at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister undertook an in-depth review of departmental performance and laid out a comprehensive roadmap for the state’s future economic and social progress.

Addressing the gathering, Chandrababu Naidu said the state had recorded improved outcomes over the past two quarters and called upon officials to work relentlessly towards achieving a 17.11 per cent growth rate in the current phase. “I wait for quarterly results the way a student waits for examination results. Officers must function with the same sense of urgency and responsibility to meet the targets,” he said.

The Chief Minister stressed that balanced growth across 17 key sectors was essential for sustained Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) expansion. Agriculture, livestock, manufacturing, fisheries, industry and services must all advance in parallel, he noted, warning that progress in only a few sectors would not deliver long-term economic stability.

Lamenting the impact of misguided policies of the previous government, Chandrababu Naidu said Andhra Pradesh had slipped to the bottom among southern states after once competing head-to-head with Telangana. “We must reverse this decline, reset our growth engine and reclaim the top position,” he urged, adding that post-2024 data already showed early signs of recovery that must now be accelerated.

While noting that Andhra Pradesh ranks first in horticulture, he said the sector had the potential to attract Rs. 60,000-70,000 crore in private investment. He directed officials to prepare short-, medium- and long-term crop plans integrating demand-based cultivation, water security, food processing and agri-tech.

Announcing a major administrative reform, the Chief Minister said the government would introduce a new governance benchmark titled Speed of Delivering Governance, modelled on the Ease of Doing Business framework. District Collectors, he said, would serve as brand ambassadors of governance, with their performance measured by service delivery speed and grievance redressal efficiency.

He directed that public grievances be resolved swiftly and the status of complaints be placed transparently online. “Public satisfaction is the ultimate indicator of governance success,” he said, urging collectors to prioritise the needs of the poor, farmers, women, youth and the homeless. He also asked officials to replicate best practices across districts and proactively communicate government initiatives through social media.

Responding to criticism over Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode medical colleges, Chandrababu Naidu categorically rejected allegations of privatisation. He clarified that while colleges were being built under the PPP model, they would function strictly as government medical colleges, with regulations, admissions and operations controlled by the state.

“Seventy per cent of beneficiaries will receive treatment under NTR Vaidya Seva, and medical seats will increase. If roads built under PPP do not become private assets, why should medical colleges?” he asked, adding that even the Centre was adopting the PPP model for infrastructure.

He launched a sharp attack on the previous government, accusing it of financial mismanagement, wasteful expenditure and pushing the state into a debt trap. Referring to the construction of the Rushikonda palace at a cost of Rs. 500 crore, he said the same funds could have built two modern medical colleges. “Today, it stands as a white elephant and a burden on the exchequer,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister said the coalition government was successfully implementing the ‘Super Six’ welfare promises, including timely pension payments, financial assistance to farmers under Annadata Sukhibhava, benefits for students through Talliki Vandanam, and women-centric schemes such as Deepam 2.0 and Stree Shakti. Recruitment drives for teachers and constables were also progressing at pace, alongside large-scale housing programmes.

Chandrababu Naidu called upon collectors to work under the P4 model, and ensure preventive, curative and cost-effective healthcare delivery. “Correcting systemic flaws and accelerating governance is the only way to restore public trust and secure Andhra Pradesh’s future,” he asserted.