Speaker launches Deepam Scheme, announces widespread eligibility

Visakhapatnam:Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Ayyannapatrudu announced that 55 lakh people across the state are eligible for the newly launched Deepam scheme. Speaking at the scheme’s inauguration at the Narsipatnam RDO office, he explained that an amount of ₹11,630 will be allocated for each beneficiary over the five-year programme.

Ayyannapatrudu acknowledged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s original initiative in 1999 to provide gas connections to women and noted the Deepam 2 scheme was launched on Diwali as part of an election commitment. Under this scheme, beneficiaries will receive three gas cylinders annually over the next five years. Eligibility criteria include holding a white ration card, a linked bank account, and an existing gas connection.

The Speaker highlighted that ₹41 crore in development funds had already been allocated to the Narsipatnam constituency since the government took office. He urged local TDP leaders to coordinate with mandal-level officials and encouraged beneficiaries to reach out if any issues arise with the scheme’s benefits.