Vijayawada: The year 2023 has seen a welfare rollout in full steam in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy adhered to the welfare calendar with all elements of social justice and economic empowerment.
The government implemented all the welfare programmes in ways that ensured all the beneficiaries got the full benefits in a transparent manner.
Social security pensions under YSR Pension Kanuka have been a big draw. The pensions come calling on the first day of the month at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries.
The state government handed over 7.43 lakh Jagananna Colony houses to the poor and 13936 TIDCO houses to disadvantaged sections of the society and distributed house site pattas to 50,793 poor women in the R-5 zone spread over Guntur and NTR districts.
Members of the SC, ST, BC and minority communities along with those from economically weaker sections (EWS) of forward castes received the benefits. A lion’s share went to them under YSR Aasara, Amma Vodi and YSR Rythu Bharosa etc. More than 54 lakh SC, ST, BC and minority farmers received Rs 7,365.19 crore under the farmers' welfare schemes like YSR Rythu Bharosa, input subsidy and crop loss insurance claims.
Giving a fillip to the farm sector and boosting the morale of the farmers, the chief minister inaugurated 4019 YSR Yantra Seva Kendras and handed over 2,562 tractors, 100 combine harvesters and 3,573 farm machines to the 10,778 RBKs-attached farmers’ groups.
The government repaid the bank loans worth '6,419.89crore under YSR Aasara, benefiting 78.94 lakh women belonging to 7,985,395 self-help groups, enhancing their livelihood opportunities, generating more revenue and wealth.
Mothers of 83, 15, 341 students of Class 1 to XII (Intermediate) received Rs 6,392.94 crore under Amma Vodi so as to reduce the dropout rate while increasing the GER in schools.
As a supplement to the YSR Aasara, the government this year paid Rs 1,353.76 crore towards interest reimbursement under the YSR Sunna Vaddi (zero interest) scheme benefiting 1,05,13,365 women members of 9.48 lakh rural and urban self-help groups.
Jagananna Vidya Kanuka kits worth Rs 1,042.53 crore were distributed to 43,10,165 students of classes 1 to 10 in government and aided schools while tabs worth Rs 620 crore were distributed to 4,34,285 students and teachers of Class VIII.
Fee reimbursement of Rs 2,082.12 crore was made under Jagananna Vidya Deevena, benefiting 9.95 lakh students. An amount of '912.71 crore was spent on Jagananna Vasathi Deevena towards boarding and lodging charges of 9, 55,662 students pursuing degree, polytechnic, ITI, engineering and medicine courses.
Under YSR EBC Nestham, the state government also disbursed Rs 658.60 crore benefiting 4,39,068 poor women aged 45 to 60 years belonging to EWS and Rs 536.77 crore towards Kapu Nestham benefitting 3, 57, 844 women of Kapu, Balija, Telaga and Vontari communities.
The YSRC government disbursed Rs 655.17 crore under Jagananna Chedodu as financial assistance for 3,30,145 eligible Rajakas, Nayee Brahmins and tailors and Rs 955.73 crore under Jagananna Thodu towards interest-free bank loans benefitting 5.10 lakh petty traders and artisans and Rs 15.17 crore towards reimbursement of interest extending financial assistance to 13.28 lakh beneficiaries who have obtained and repaid loans promptly.
Social welfare minister Meruga Nagarjuna and BC welfare minister Srinivasa Venugopalakrishna said the government paid Rs 108.57 crore benefitting around 400 students pursuing higher education abroad under the Videshi Vidya Deevena that was implemented afresh this year.
The government provided Rs 100.50 lakh benefiting 106 civil service aspirants pursuing UPSC examinations, under the Jagananna Civil Services Protsahakam (incentive), which was added to the welfare list this year.
The government also disbursed Rs 348.70 crore under YSR Kalyanamasthu and Shadi Tohfa befitting 35,500 married girls, Rs 285.38 crore under YSR Matsyakara Bharosa for fishermen including those who lost livelihood due to ONGC activity, Rs 194 crore to members of weaver community under Nethanna Nestham and Rs 15.12 crore to junior lawyers under YSR Law Nestham and Rs 216.34 crore for those who missed the welfare bus initially.
