Naidu Government Betraying Women: MLC Varudu Kalyani

Visakhapatnam: YSRC women’s wing state president and MLC Varudu Kalyani strongly criticised the N. Chandrababu Naidu-led alliance government for failing to deliver on promises made to women, who make up half of the state's population.

Speaking to the media in Visakhapatnam, Kalyani highlighted unfulfilled promises such as free bus services, the Maha Shakti scheme, and Thalli Ki Vandanam. While neighbouring states quickly implemented free bus services, Naidu’s government had not. The Maha Shakti scheme, which promised Rs 1,500 per month to 1.8 crore women, was not launched, and the Thalli Ki Vandanam scheme, meant for 80 lakh students, had not benefitted anyone.

Kalyani also condemned the government's failure to provide unemployment benefits, despite promises of jobs or Rs 3,000 per month for unemployed youth. In contrast, the Jagan government created 1.25 lakh village secretariat jobs and paid Rs 5,000 monthly to 2.5 lakh volunteers.

She criticised the neglect of state employees, the failure to revise DA and PRC, and the underfunding of the three free gas cylinders scheme.

Kalyani also slammed the rise in alcohol and ganja consumption, blaming Naidu for turning Andhra into “Madyandra Pradesh.” She cited alarming statistics of an 18% increase in liquor sales and a 40% rise in beer sales.

On women’s safety, she condemned the removal of the DISHA app and the lack of policies, citing rising crime rates and incidents such as the rape of two women in Hindupur.