2.1 lakh families benefit from P4 in first year in AP

Vijayawada: As many as 2.1 lakh families benefited from the public private people participation (P4) programme in its first year. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu called it "only the first step" towards a broader social transformation. P4 is the first of its kind programme launched by the Andhra Pradesh govt to end poverty by 2047. The programme envisages the top 10% rich adopting 20% of the bottom poor to make themselves self-reliant by mentoring and providing employment opportunities.Naidu participated in the first anniversary of the P4 programme held at Sri Padmavati Mahila University in Tirupati on Monday. Naidu said P4 was conceived as a public movement rather than a govt slogan, with the long-term goal of ensuring improved living standards for all sections of society by 2047.The chief minister said that in the last 12 months, 1.06 lakh individuals came forward as margadarshis (mentors), adopting 10.30 lakh families out of the 21.8 lakh poor families under the programme. While more than 50% of the families have been adopted, the actual families that benefited from mentors were about 10% in the first year. Naidu credited volunteers and mentors for the success of P4 and said their response demonstrated the strength of collective effort."I have implemented many programmes, but I have not felt the kind of satisfaction that P4 has given me," Naidu said, adding that the initiative was successful in reaching out to the poor and supporting vulnerable families.Naidu observed that while overall wealth in society increased, economic disparities also widened, making poverty eradication more challenging. Drawing a parallel with the earlier Janmabhoomi programme, he said that public appeals in the past prompted NRIs and industrialists to contribute to development, leading to visible changes in villages. He described Janmabhoomi as a case study in participatory development.The chief minister said corporate participation through CSR strengthened P4, noting that TVS, MEIL and Adani group trusts were supporting the programme in Kuppam, where they have adopted 8,904 families. He also said three companies were actively working in the constituency under P4.Calling for renewed efforts, Naidu urged participants to show tangible progress by the second anniversary. He appealed to Telugu people across the world to contribute in whatever way possible and requested them to adopt at least one family. He said the govt would recognise the services of margadarshis by instituting special awards at the state, district and constituency levels to enhance social recognition.