Muddada Ravi Chandra assumes charge as TTD executive officer
Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Senior IAS officer Muddada Ravi Chandra on Friday assumed charge as the executive officer of the TTD, the official custodian of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple here.
Chandra succeeds Anil Kumar Singhal, who was transferred recently and is embroiled in the alleged Tirupati laddu ghee adulteration scam case.
The TDP-led NDA government said the CBI-led SIT had accused Singhal, along with O Balaji, FA & CAO, AV Dharma Reddy, former additional executive officer and others of approving tender conditions without "application of mind", leading to the supply of adulterated ghee to make the famous Tirupati laddu.
"Muddada Ravi Chandra, IAS assumed charge as TTD EO (executive officer) inside Tirumala temple on Friday. After taking charge as the new EO of TTD, he had darshan of Sri Venkateswara Swamy inside the temple," an official release from the temple body said.
The EO took oath as the member ex-officio of the TTD Board at Bangaru Vakili, which was administered by additional EO Ch Venkaiah Chowdary.
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Actively engage in farming, Siddaramaiah tells youth, women
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday urged farmers, youth, and women to actively engage in agriculture.
He also called for the restoration of the UPA-era rural employment scheme, MGNREGA under Mahatma Gandhi's name.
Addressing the three-day International Agriculture Fair, Siddaramaiah congratulated all recipients of the Agricultural Scholar awards, calling them role models for other farmers.
He emphasised that agriculture can be highly profitable if farmers move beyond mere crop production and participate in storage, processing, marketing, packaging, and value addition.
Highlighting government support, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka leads the nation in facilitating insurance claims and providing subsidies worth over Rs 1,000 crore.
According to an official statement, he noted that fair procurement prices for crops like sugarcane and maize have been ensured, with the state purchasing millions of metric tons to benefit farmers directly.
Stressing the importance of women and youth, Siddaramaiah said many women have already received awards, and their participation in agriculture and allied sectors should grow even further.
He called on young people to view agriculture not just as a livelihood but as a pathway to entrepreneurship and empowerment.
Siddaramaiah strongly criticized the central government's recent amendment to MGNREGA, which removed Mahatma Gandhi's name and renamed it the "Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Livelihood Mission (Gramin)."
He urged citizens to demand that the original scheme be restored to ensure 100 days of local employment for rural workers.
The chief minister added that India has achieved self-reliance in food production, and Karnataka continues to support farmers through subsidies, quality seeds, fertilizers, and welfare programs including free transport, financial assistance for women, and rice distribution under the Anna Bhagya program.
The CM called upon farmers, especially youth and women, to embrace modern agriculture, strive for excellence, and serve as inspiration for the next generation.
Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy highlighted the government's initiatives to empower farmers and boost agricultural production in Karnataka, calling the fair a platform to introduce new schemes to the public.
Chauvarayaswamy said that while Karnataka produced 70-75 lakh metric tonnes of crops in 1970, current production has dropped to 40-60 per cent of demand, forcing the state to import essential commodities.
The minister emphasised that farmers must be able to earn profitable returns through consistent cultivation, branding, marketing, and access to credit facilities.
