It was the Great NTR who had been noble enough to introduce the Rs. 2/- a Kg. rice for the poor. Though he lived through the entire period, he made the entire coffer of AP empty. I remember the roads in the entire State were next to non-existent, only to be compared to the worst in the world. The entire development work got stuck due to lack of money. The Rice Policy together with Prohibition, brought AP to the door of Bankruptcy.
Naidu, once he became the Chief minister, did a good thing by doing away with both contentious but somewhat popular policies almost immediately afterwords. Coupled with his proximity with the power that be at the centre, he could bring about a sea change. Now almost every village has been connected with good road and state's economy is amongst the best in the country. When he took over, the capital city Hyderabad, was having barely any road that is worth its name. Now it has become a beautiful one.
The Congress government is now knowingly doing something, which can not be sustained. And it surely be very difficult for the next government to reverse this seemingly popular policy. By doing so the entire economy of the state will go doom.
