AP Legislative Council Resumes Proceedings After Adjournments
Following multiple adjournments related to the Tirumala Laddu controversy, the Andhra Pradesh legislative council successfully resumed its Question Hour on Wednesday. The session proceeded smoothly under the leadership of Chairman Koyye Moshenu Raju, with council members directing their attention toward critical public welfare matters affecting the state's citizens.
Major Expansion of Dialysis Facilities Across Andhra Pradesh
A significant portion of the discussion centered on the healthcare infrastructure, particularly the expansion of dialysis services. Health Minister Satyakumar Yadav provided comprehensive details to the House regarding the current state of dialysis facilities. According to the minister, Andhra Pradesh currently operates a total of 2,721 dialysis machines across the state.
This breakdown includes 985 machines in government hospitals and 1,736 machines in network hospitals. These facilities are currently serving approximately 21,504 kidney patients throughout Andhra Pradesh. The minister emphasized that special attention is being directed toward addressing chronic kidney disease cases, particularly in the Uddanam region which has been identified as a high-prevalence area.
Minister Yadav further revealed that the government has sanctioned 14 new dialysis centers over the past 20 months. This expansion has resulted in a substantial increase in monthly dialysis sessions, rising from approximately 40,000 to 66,000 sessions per month. The government is also providing financial support through a ₹10,000 monthly pension to 675 patients and is actively considering additional assistance for transplant cases.
Over the last 20 months, the state government has allocated ₹224 crore specifically for kidney care initiatives, with an average expenditure of ₹86,000 per patient receiving treatment through these programs.
Heated Exchanges Over 'Aadabidda Nidhi' Women's Support Scheme
The legislative council session also witnessed intense debates regarding the proposed 'Aadabidda Nidhi' scheme, which was promised during election campaigns as a financial support mechanism for women. YSRCP MLCs pressed the government for a clear implementation timeline, expressing concerns about delays in rolling out the promised program.
In response, MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas stated that the scheme is under active consideration by the government. He highlighted existing welfare measures, noting that pension amounts have been increased from ₹3,000 to ₹4,000, with the government spending approximately ₹33,000 crore annually on various welfare pension programs.
Unsatisfied with these responses, opposition members staged a protest within the House, demanding greater clarity and concrete commitments regarding the women's financial support scheme. Amid counter-arguments from treasury benches, Chairman Moshenu Raju intervened to restore parliamentary order and bring the discussion to a conclusion.
The resumption of Question Hour marked a return to normal legislative proceedings after the disruptions caused by the Tirumala Laddu controversy, with council members successfully shifting focus to substantive policy matters affecting public health and welfare in Andhra Pradesh.
