Several district collectors showcased innovative, grassroots-level initiatives at the District Collectors’ Conference, drawing strong appreciation from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who described many of the projects as potential game changers for Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister urged officials to replicate successful models across the state to ensure wider public benefit.

Collectors from Nellore, Kadapa, and Anantapur presented their initiatives through detailed presentations, which the Chief Minister commended for their impact and scalability.

Nellore District Collector Himanshu Shukla explained the ‘Champion Farmer’ programme aimed at bringing transformative changes in agriculture. Under the initiative, one progressive farmer is identified in every village and trained to promote farm mechanisation, reduced use of fertilisers and pesticides, alternative cropping patterns, and natural farming practices. Appreciating the effort, the Chief Minister said the initiative reflected effective inter-departmental coordination and suggested developing champion farmers into Self-Help Groups or MSMEs to enhance rural incomes.

Kadapa District Collector Cherukuri Sridhar outlined the ‘Smart Kitchen for All Schools’ project, under which hot, nutritious meals are prepared centrally at mandal-level kitchens and supplied to schools. The kitchens operate using solar power and biogas. Calling it a model for the nation, the Chief Minister said the concept should evolve into “Smart Kitchen, Smart Health, Smart Children” and directed collectors from all districts to visit Kadapa to study the initiative. Minister Nara Lokesh added that Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had also lauded the project.

Anantapur District Collector Anand informed the conference that artificial intelligence is being used to digitise revenue records, with an online library created to prevent manipulation. The Chief Minister welcomed the move and instructed officials to store all land records on cloud platforms to ensure transparency and tamper-proof governance.

The Chief Minister also praised innovative programmes from Alluri Sitarama Raju, Parvathipuram Manyam, and Eluru districts. He lauded Parvathipuram Manyam Collector Prabhakar Reddy’s ‘Mustabu’ programme for promoting hygiene awareness among students without additional funding and directed its rollout across government and private schools, potentially benefiting 79 lakh students.

In Eluru district, Collector Vetriselvi’s ‘Project Marpu’, aimed at rehabilitating traditional liquor brewers by transforming them into micro-entrepreneurs, was cited as bringing visible change in 140 villages. Similarly, Alluri district’s ‘Super 50 Inspiration Engine of Nirmaan’, implemented by Collector Dinesh Kumar, has benefited nearly 90,000 tribal Class X students.

Referring to the ‘Viluvala Badi’ concept launched in Kuppam, the Chief Minister stressed that education must impart values alongside knowledge. He urged collectors to leverage technology and innovative thinking to deliver people-centric governance and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.