The Andhra Pradesh State Government, headed by Chief Minister Dr. Rajasekhara Red has transformed the state by implementing fundamental changes at the grass root leving been in politics for more than three decades, Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy came in closest contact with the grim living conditions of the poor during the 1500-km 'padayatra' he undertook before he became Chief Minister in 2004. Once he assumed office, he did not lose time, nor spare any opportunity to make changes that are necessary for the betterment of the (common man). LOANS At the very beginning of his tenure, Dr. Reddy waived any overdue interest owed by farmers, wrote off their power bill arrears, and made provisions for free power supply to the agricultural sector. The government is now arranging short-term crop loans at three percent interest, which will become available to farmers from the Kharif season this year. As many as 84 lakh Andhra Pradesh farmers are benefiting of the central government's waiver of agricultural loans worth Rs. 72,000 crore. Farmers who have already repaid their loans are not being left out either. The Reddy government is giving each of the 22 lakh farmers who have repaid loans a Rs. 5,000 incentive. The Union Government chose Andhra Pradesh as the model state to launch the National Food Security Mission to increase buffer stock for contingency and disaster mitigation needs, which is a tribute to the state's food production capacity. Dr. Reddy's belief in the equality of men and women led to the conception of the Pavala Vaddi (three percent interest) scheme, which has enabled lakhs of women to avail of bank loans at only three percent interest. Any woman who repays a loan punctually with a bank's fixed rate of interest is reimbursed anything she pays over and above three percent. There are more than 88 lakh women in more than 7 lakh self help groups in Andhra Pradesh, which have increased even trading in agricultural produce by crores, ensuring fair prices to farmers and profits for themselves. In the last four years, banks have advanced loans totaling Rs. 12,000 crore to such groups. This year's target is Rs. 10,000 crore. Pensions are being granted to widows, weavers, the elderly and the physically challenged. Nearly 49 lakh people are receiving a Rs. 200 pension every month. The total number of beneficiaries is expected to cross the 60-lakh mark soon. AGRICULTURE Andhra Pradesh is once again becoming the granary of India and reclaiming its erstwhile title Annapurna." The state produced a record 191 lakh tons of food grains during 2007-08, during which year the agricultural sector registered a growth rate of 12 percent. It has set itself a target of 200 lakh tons for 2008-09. The government is planning to spend a further Rs. 32,074 crore on agriculture, and 20 other related departments, in 2008-09 under an integrated action plan. The Andhra Pradesh government has taken upon itself the gigantic task of providing irrigation to an additional one crore acres at a cost of more than Rs. 100,000 crore in five years. 12 of the 74 projects initially undertaken have been completed, providing irrigation to 14 lakh acres. Twenty-seven more projects will be completed by March 2009, providing irrigation to another 19 lakh acres. Rice is being supplied to low-income groups at Rs. 2 a kg, instead of the ruling market price of around Rs. 15-20, since April 2008. There are 1.82 crore white cardholders accounting for nearly 6.5 crore of the State's 8.22 crore population (82 percent). Each cardholder gets 16 kg to 20 kg every month, depending on the number of family members. Since July 2008, the government has also been supplying red gram dal and palmolein oil to white cardholders at subsidized prices. In the last four years, the government has distributed 600,000 acres of land to scs, STc and BCs, and launched a scheme to help weaker social groups cultivate lands assigned to them earlier. As a result, lakhs of uncultivated land acres have been brought under the plough for the first time. The state government has implemented a program called 'Pasukranti' under which it procure; high milk yielding animals from other states and supplies them to farmers. Dairy farming, although ancillary to agriculture, is very beneficial to agricultural workers in rural areas as it provides them with additional income. Rs. 165 crore have been allocated for the program in the Budget for 2008-09. The government is also implementing a scheme called 'Pashukranti' with a subsidy component of Rs. 40 crore, under which sheep and goats will be distributed to farmers. Previously, sheep and goat farmers were sustaining severe losses when animals died of natural causes. The government is now vaccinating sheep and goats on a large scale and implementing the sheep insurance scheme, which came into operation in June 2006 all over the state, and under which the government pays 50% of the premium on behalf of farmers. HEALTH Troubled that thousands of people were dying of critical ailments because they could not afford medical treatment, the Chief Minister conceived 'Rajiv Aarogyasri'. This unique medical insurance plan covers over 80 percent of its population. Under this plan, the government pays all health insurance premiums for the poor so they can be treated for over 863 diseases, including those related to kidney, brain, heart and lungs, cancer, and burn injuries. Any white ration cardholder can get treatment costing up to Rs. 2 lakh free of cost at a hospital of his choice