Prez for effective delivery mechanism

President Pratibha Patil on Monday called upon public representatives and officials to take effective steps for making delivery system more efficient and ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes reach all segments of society.

Inaugurating the 500th year of the coronation of Vijayanagara Kingdom ruler Srikrishnadevaraya at Ravindra Bharathi, Patil asked the officials and policy makers to take a leaf from their life for redressing the people's problems.

India was competing with global leaders in all fields and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. However, the development and growth should reach all corners of the society, particularly weak and disadvantaged sections, she stated.

”The progress depends on rural development as more than 70 percent of people live in villages. If the villages are provided with sophisticated technology and training, the nation will achieve food security and agricultural growth,” she pointed out. She asked the authorities to train the villagers in technical fields to achieve good harvesting.

The President also unveiled the statue of Srikrishnadevaraya. Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister K Rosaiah, Information and Public Relations Minister J Geetha Reddy and others were present.

After the programme, the President flagged off a chariot being decorated by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, focusing on the importance of the coronation ceremony. The chariot will be taken in a procession to 10 districts in the state so as to reach Anantapur by Aug 8, where the government will organize celebrations.