Become entrepreneurs and share your riches, Chandrababu Naidu tells Telugu NRIs
Chicago: Entrepreneurship and philanthropy are two most important qualities that Telugu Non-Resident Indians living in the US and other countries must acquire and help the poor and rural folks in India. If a small community of Israelis can make an impact and dominate in every field in the whole world and the US, it should not be difficult for Telugu NRIs.
These views were expressed by N. Chandrababu Naidu, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), at a overwhelmingly huge and warm reception held in his honor by the Tri-State Telugu Association and Telugu Association of Greater Chicago, at the India House Restaurant and Banquets Hall in Schaumburg, a suburb of Chicago, on July 3. Chandrababu Naiud, accompanied by his former Cabinet colleagues, Telugu Desam Party functionaries and others, were on a 12-day tour of the US, which would culminate at the biennial convention of Telugu Association of North American in Washington DC on July 5.
Addressing the gathering of over 1,500 people, among whom were a number of Telugu youth information technology professionals, Chandrababu Naidu said: “I am touring this country and meeting you all with a mission and vision. I want you to earn with right hand and spend with left hand. Be good entrepreneurs and invest in India and Andhra Pradesh. Be good philanthropists to help the poor and rural folks and improve their lives. Telugus have good brains. Gujaratis are good entrepreneurs. Punjabis are good farmers. Telugus are good professionals. It is time they became good entrepreneurs and philanthropists,” he said.
Tracing the good work done in his nine -years of Chief Ministership, he said: “At the beginning of my taking over as Chief Minister I planned 10 percent GDP, when it was hardly 2-3 percent. From mere 6,000 seats in engineering colleges, I raised it to 100,000 seats by opening more engineering colleges. That is why, today you are able to go to countries like the US, the UK and Europe and earn good salaries. When I gave importance to information technology, some political leaders mocked at me. Now the same leaders are following my concepts.”
Chandrababu Naidu said that his economic reforms, power sector reforms, irrigation schemes, infrastructural projects and the Vision 20-20, had largely helped both urban and the rural people. In the power sector, Andhra Pradesh occupied first place in the country. The irrigation schemes launched by his government, the input subsidies and minimum support price for the produce had largely helped the farmers. They were reaping the benefits now. If the state budget had grown three-fold now, it was because of the strong foundation laid by his government. His opponents, who wrongly projected his good work and succeeded in winning the elections, were now following the same schemes.
The former Chief Minister said that with his hard work and persuasion through a powerpoint presentation, he was able to convince Bill Gates to establish a Microsoft Development Center in Hyderabad. Now several leading international companies had opened their businesses in Cyberabad. The new international airport, which would be opened in March next year was part of the developmental works initiated by his government.
He said that Hyderabad, its surrounding places and other Andhra cities had vastly developed. The land value, which used to be just one lakh rupees an acre near Hyderabad was now sold at 30 crore rupees an acre. Many people had become rich quickly.
He asked Telugu NRIs to emulate the example of people of a small country like Israel. Their country was surrounded by their enemies. But the people of Israel, wherever they lived were excelling in all fields. They might be small in numbers, but they were playing a big role in the US and world economy, science, and media.
He said that his trip was not meant for political gains, but to emphasize the need for the Telugu NRIs to become entrepreneurs and contribute liberally to the trust launched to perpetuate the memory of N.T.Rama Rao, former Chief Minister and architect of TDP, who brought distinct identity and recognition to Telugus in the country.
Chandrababu Naidu said that the NTR Memorial Trust aimed at actively rendering social service to the underprivileged people of Andhra Pradesh in the areas of education, healthcare, rural empowerment, and relief and rehabilitation.
Regarding healthcare initiative of the trust, he said, it was holding blood donation camps and blood banks, eye care camps, mother and child health prvisions, AIDS awareness, mobile clinics and health camps and health education. He said that the trust had in the last two years had collected 40,000 units of blood.
Speaking about education, he said the trust was opening model schools in villages to provide education to the poor children. One such school, which was opened in Gandipet, provided education to 400 poor students. The school now set a target to admit 750 students this year.
He said that NRIs could donate about $30 to provide a cataract operation, or donate $1,000 for one full year of education to a deserving poor student, or donate $10,000 for educating one poor student for full life-time. He said the NRIs could donate money for mobile clinics, maternity clinics, medicines, eye camps, drinking water schemes, education or any other specific areas they could propose.
He concluded his speech by giving a call: “Dare to dream and strive to achieve.”
The others who spoke about the contributions and achievements of N.T Rama Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and the Telegu Desam Party government, included Dr. Nagam Janardhana Reddy, former Andhra Pradesh Health Minister, Mysora Reddy, member of parliament and former Andhra Pradesh Minister, K. Umesh, CEO of NTR Memorial Trust, Komati Jayaram, TANA vice president and trip coordinator of Chandrababu Naidu, Chalama Reddy, TDP-NRI coordinator, Jagdish Kanuru, president of Tri-State Telugu Association, and Syama Pappu, TAGC president.
Iftekhar Shareef, president of Federation of Indian Associations, Dr. Ram Gajjala, and Jagdish Kanuru ana Syama Pappu presented mementos to Chandrababu Naidu.
Dr. Yelevarti Ramaraju Bhushanudu was the master of ceremonies. Syama Pappu proposed a vote of thanks.
Earlier, a similar reception was accorded to Chandrababu Naidu by minority communities represented by American Hyderabadi Association, and Welfare Association of US in Association with Minorities, at Khan Building on Devon Avenue.
It was addressed by Dr. Hyder, Rasheed Ali Khan, Syed Hussain, Mukarram, Bhishop Jaikumar of World Bishops Council, Shakeel Ali Khan, Qayyum and others.
Speaking in Urdu and assuring his complete support to minority communities, Chandrababu Naidu reminded them that there was complete communal harmony in Hyderabad city and Andhra Pradesh during his nine-year Chief Ministership. There was no law and order problem in Hyderabad. “I am proud to tell you that there was not even single day of curfew during those nine-years in Hyderabad,” he, said and added that with the presence of so many well-wishers of minority communities, Devon Area looked just like Pathargatti or Chanchalguda in Hyderabad.
By J.V. Lakshmana Rao
