During an interaction, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu suggested Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to take steps to protect agriculture and introduce structural changes.

The Vice President wanted the minister to continue with “Special Assistance, Special Attention and Special Dispensation’ to Andhra Pradesh.

Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier announced a special financial package to the successor State.

While appreciating that many assurances were fulfilled regarding the setting up of national institutions and sanctioning of new projects to Andhra Pradesh, Shri Naidu stressed the need to provide a helping hand to the State.

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH Shri Shripad Yesso Naik also called on the Vice President. Expressing his happiness at the overwhelming response for International Day of Yoga all over the country and the world, Naidu advised the minister to continue with efforts to make Yoga a people’s movement.

He also reminded the minister about the assurance to set up a Central Research Institute of Yoga & Naturopathy (CRIYN) with 100-bedded IPD Hospital at Kondapavuluru in Krishna District of Andhra Pradesh.

He told the minister that the Department of AYUSH, government of Andhra Pradesh had allotted free of cost 25 acres and the land was also registered under Central Council of Research in Yoga and Naturopathy in 2018 itself.

The Vice President also reminded the Minister that he had suggested in the past for laying the foundation at the earliest after Former Health Minister of Andhra Pradesh Kamineni Srinivas represented the matter. Later, the announcement was made by the Union Minister.