Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, during a video conference from the Secretariat today, directed leaders and officials not to insist or coerce individuals, particularly government employees, into becoming Margadarsis (mentors) for the state’s flagship Zero Poverty-P4 (Public-Private-People Partnership) initiative.
The directive comes amid growing criticism that the government is pressuring employees and others to participate, allegedly causing financial stress.
Addressing MLAs, public representatives, and officials, Naidu emphasized that participation in the P4 initiative, launched to eradicate poverty by 2029, must remain voluntary. “No one should be forced, and there must be no coercion. Only those with compassion and humanity should be part of this effort,” he stated, responding to allegations that government employees and others were being pushed to adopt Bangaru Kutumbams (underprivileged families) despite financial constraints. He added, “Some people have the resources but not the heart, while others have the intent but not the time. We must identify those genuinely willing to join the P4 platform.”
The P4 initiative, rolled out to connect the wealthiest 10% of society with the bottom 20% to foster inclusive growth, has identified 9.37 lakh Bangaru Kutumbams and 1.03 lakh Margadarsis so far, with needs prioritized through AI-driven surveys. However, opposition voices, including the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), have labeled P4 as a tactic to shift the state’s welfare responsibilities onto individuals.
YSRCP leader A. Rambabu recently called it “an attempt to mask the government’s failure to fulfill its Super Six promises,” alleging that employees face undue pressure to contribute financially, straining their resources.
Naidu refuted these claims, stressing that P4 is a “people-powered movement” aimed at emotional, social, and economic upliftment, not a mandatory scheme. He highlighted his own participation, having adopted 250 families in his Kuppam constituency, as an example of voluntary commitment.
“Who you help today can become a Margadarshi tomorrow. This is about collective effort, not compulsion,” he said, urging critics to focus on the initiative’s transformative potential.
The Chief Minister also addressed misinformation surrounding the program, noting, “Some are trying to obstruct good initiatives by creating a negative narrative.” He called for transparency and encouraged NRIs, industrialists, and philanthropists to join voluntarily, while assuring that a digital dashboard would track progress to ensure accountability.
With the P4 rollout set to begin on August 19, Naidu instructed officials to intensify groundwork at village and ward levels, targeting 15 lakh Bangaru Kutumbams by Independence Day.