Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan along with Lady Governor Suprava Harichandan, hosted ‘AT HOME’ function at Raj Bhavan on the occasion of 74th Republic Day, in Vijayawada on Thursday.

Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy along with his wife Y S Bharathi Reddy, high court Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra along with his wife Sucheta Mishra, have attended the function among others.

Governor Harichandan and Lady Governor Suprava Harichandan welcomed the dignitaries on their arrival at Raj Bhavan.

Judges of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Members of AP Public Service Commission, Members of AP Information Commission, Chief Secretary Dr K S Jawahar Reddy, DGP K V Rajendranath Reddy, several All India Service officers, several dignitaries including Sportspersons, Padma Shri Award winners, Media persons, Ex-Servicemen and others have attended the function held at the Raj Bhavan lawns in a cordial atmosphere.

Earlier, Governor Harichandan went around and greeted the guests who attended the function. Special Chief Secretary to Governor R P Sisodia, supervised the arrangements made for the function.

On completing two years in office as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Biswa Bhusan Harichandan on Saturday said he received good cooperation from the YSRCP government as well as love and affection from the people.

He also thanked the Raj Bhavan staff who have been serving him for the past two years.

The Governor marked the occasion by planting saplings in the Raj Bhavan premises in the presence of officials and staff members.

Harichandan said the Andhra Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy enjoys an excellent relationship with the Governor’s office, unlike some states where differences are out in the open.

He also met Indian Red Cross Society members from its Andhra Pradesh unit and appreciated their efforts.

“The Andhra Pradesh branch of Indian Red Cross Society has broken all records in tree plantation and blood donation and have done a lot of work even during the difficult Covid-19 pandemic,” Harichandan said.

The Governor told the Red Cross officials to make it a mission that no life is lost in the southern state due to blood loss.

Joint Secretary to the Governor, A. Shyam Prasad and other officials conveyed their wishes to Harichandan on completing two years in office.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan on Friday presented the President’s gold medal of the Indian Red Cross Society to Y.D. Rama Rao.

Rao is the Chairman of the East Godavari district chapter of the Indian Red Cross Society and he won the medal for the year 2018-19, recognising his distinguished service for the cause of Red Cross movement in the district for more than a decade.

“The entire team of Indian Red Cross Society and the Andhra Pradesh state branch is proud of his achievement,” said Harichandan, who is also the President of the state branch.

The Indian Red Cross Society gives away two gold medals every year at the national level to individuals who have contributed to the Red Cross movement with exemplary service for more than 15 years.

Generally, these awards are presented by the President of India, who is also the President of the Indian Red Cross Society, but it could not be done this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Harichandan gave away the award to Rao at the Raj Bhavan in the presence A. Sridhar Reddy and A.K. Parida, the chairman and general secretary of the Indian Red Cross society, respectively.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhushan Harichandan said the state is marching ahead with emphasis on education, health care, agriculture and welfare, on Tuesday at the 72nd Republic Day celebrations.

“The beneficiaries are selected in a transparent manner without any scope for discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, religion or political affiliation by implementing the schemes in a saturation mode by covering all eligible persons,” said Harichandan.

According to the Governor, the state has passed through testing times with the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic and the government has effectively handled the situation by taking measures to win accolades from across the country.

He said the government put in place necessary infrastructure and mechanisms for the storage, transport and administration of the vaccine, since the rolling out of the country-wide vaccination programme 10 days ago.

Harichandan highlighted that despite the pandemic, Andhra Pradesh did not neglect welfare programmes or stop initiatives such as delivering rations, groceries, purchase of agriculture produce, export of aqua products and special Kisan Rail services.

He said the state launched the distribution of 31 lakh house sites for the poor on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi and Christmas on December 25.

“The scheme will ensure not only construction of houses but building of habitations coming up in 17,000 well defined layouts,” said the Governor.

He highlighted that the state government delivered sale agreements pertaining to 2.6 lakh TIDCO houses to eligible women beneficiaries in urban areas, out of which 1.43 lakh have been handed over for Re 1.

He said Polavaram Irrigation Project has been revised to Rs 55,549 crore to stabilise the existing ayacut of 23.5 lakh and provide irrigation facility to 7.2 lakh acres.

Harichandan also referred to the alleged temple attacks in the state and said there is no place for such activities.

He reminded that the state is of the firm view that decentralisation of development by the trifurcation of capitals, Amaravati as legislative capital, Kurnool as judicial capital and Visakhapatnam as executive capital, would usher in balanced development of all regions in the state.