Center committed to grant Special status to AP

The Central government has finally issued clarity in the much debated issue of Andhra Pradesh. Planning Minister Indrajit Singh in a written reply to Parliament clarified that the planning commission is considering to give the special status to AP. He also informed that the special development package to the backward areas will be finalized based on the specific proposals from AP Government after due consultations with the concerned ministries.

While moving the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill in the Parliament then, the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a statement that AP will accorded special category status to compensate the loss due to bifurcation. The then government also assured creation of a special cell in the Planning Commission headed by Deputy Chairman to address the development needs and a special package for the backward regions of Seemandhra on the lines of KBK special plan in Odisha and the Bundelkhand special package.

But there is no word about the special package or status in the recent budget of Central government. Further the planning commission chairman went on to say that AP does not fulfill the criteria to accord Special status. So, the people of AP are in confusion over this issue since then.