Rajahmundry: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday launched Rs 5 lakh insurance scheme for the licensed transport drivers and workers in unorganised sector in the State here on Friday. He participated in a public meeting organised on the occasion of May Day at Government Arts College grounds.He also announced that he would extend this facility to all the Dwcra women in the State along with media representatives working in rural areas.

He also said that along with sand auctions, the SHG women would be given top priority in running generic drug stores owned by the State government. The Chief Minister earlier visited Kotilingala bathing ghat, longest ghat in the country and Pushkara ghat and Gnana Saraswati Ghat, which are under construction on the eve of forthcoming Godavari Pushkarams.

Addressing the public meeting after brief showers, presided over by State Labour Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and attended by Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Ministers P  Narayana, Peethala Sujatha and MP M  Murali Mohan and MLAs, the Chief Minister said that about 3.38 lakh transport drivers, including truck and auto rickshaw drivers in the State would be benefited and added that the state would contribute Rs 4.25 lakh per driver and the Centre would contribute Rs 75,000 through Aam Aadmi Beema Yojana, in case of accidental death.

Under the scheme, first premium will be paid by the State government and from the second year onwards, the premium should have to be paid by the beneficiary himself.  The CM received a good round of applause when he announced that he would include Kapu community into BCs very soon without affecting the present quota of BCs.

Taking a dig at YSR Congress, Naidu said red sanders smugglers were being encouraged by some parties and those smugglers were producing films too. The Chief Minister gave away Shrama Shakti awards and best management awards on the occasion of May Day and prizes were given for the winners of the sports competitions which were conducted in Rajahmundry in the run up to May Day.