In 2nd year of rule, Naidu sets welfare agenda with Super Six rollout vow amid fund strain, YSRCP barbs
A sum of Rs 10,091 crore will be spent this year on the scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode, benefiting 67.27 lakh students, out of which Rs 1,346 crore will go towards improving school infrastructure.
On Thursday, the Naidu government issued orders for the implementation of the Thalliki Vandanam (meaning 'salutation to mother' in Telugu) scheme under which every school going student in a financially needy family gets Rs 13,000 handout annually.
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who has repeatedly blamed the previous Jagan government for leaving state finances in dire straits, limiting the new dispensation's ability to implement welfare schemes, has set out to fulfill his poll promises, especially the flagship 'Super Six' guarantees, in the second year of his tenure.
The Thalliki Vandanam scheme is one of the Super Six guarantees promised in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-Jana Sena Party (JSP) election manifesto.
These promises, along with the anti-incumbency wave, were seen as major factors behind the TDP-JSP-BJP alliance's successful trouncing of the YSR Congress Party last year.
Since assuming power 12 June 2014, Chandrababu Naidu has been blaming his predecessor and YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy for the state's poor finances, and the TDP-led NDA government's inability to make good on the 'Super Six' and other promises made in the run-up to the polls.
Presenting a white paper on Andhra Pradesh's finances in the assembly last July, Naidu had said his administration inherited debt and liabilities to the tune of Rs 9.74 lakh-crore from the Jagan dispensation.
The 'Super Six' promises featured on the first page of Prajagalam–Ummadi (joint) manifesto 2024, along with pictures of Naidu and JSP chief and now deputy CM Pawan Kalyan. The poll promises were popularised among the voters with the slogan: 'Babu's surety, good future guarantee.'
The six flagship promises are: 20 lakh jobs to educated, skilled youngsters or Rs 3,000 per month as unemployment allowance; annual financial support of Rs 15,000 for underprivileged women to help them educate their children (Thalliki Vandanam); Rs 20,000 per annum as financial assistance for eligible farmers (Annadata Sukhibava); Rs 1,500 per month to eligible women; three LPG cylinders free to each eligible family per year; and free travel for women in the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses.
Of these, the Naidu government launched the Deepam 2.0 scheme (three gas cylinders free of cost) on the occasion of Deepawali last year.
Also Read: Naidu rolls out 'Thalliki Vandanam', expanding Jagan's Amma Vodi scheme. 24 lakh more students covered
Farmers aid & free RTC travel for women soon
Speaking at an event at Amaravati Thursday, marking the NDA combine's one year in office, Naidu announced that the Annadata Sukhibhava will be rolled out from 20 June.
Annadata Sukhibhava will put Rs 20,000 in the farmers' hands—including the centre's PM Kisan scheme Rs 6,000 per annum support—in three installments annually.
Both Thalliki Vandanam and Annadata Sukhibhava are reenactments of Jagan Mohan Reddy tenure's Amma Vodi and YSR Rythu Bharosa. However, Naidu, TDP leaders say, has expanded the ambit and amounts under both the schemes, thereby incurring more budget expenditure on the two welfare schemes. The YSRCP contests the claim.
The Amma Vodi assistance was limited to one child per mother, while the Thalliki Vandanam aid is being given regardless of the number of school going children in a financially deprived family.
Under the YSR Rythu Bharosa, the Jagan government was giving Rs 13,500 farming assistance to ryots, including the Rs 6000 from PM Kisan Scheme.
'Now, we will be giving Rs 6500 more (than what the Jagan government did),' Naidu told reporters Thursday.
While stating that women are getting three free LPG cylinders under the Deepam scheme, the CM said the free bus travel for women in RTC buses can be availed from 15 August.
Similar free travel schemes are already running in neighbouring Telangana and Karnataka, both ruled by the Congress party.
The chief minister added that his administration is also finalising the modalities for implementing the unemployment allowance scheme. The Aadabidda Nidhi scheme, under which Rs 1,500 per month is given to eligible women of 18 years and above, is also underway, said Naidu.
Also Read: As Chandrababu is re-elected TDP head, a look at his rise that began with a coup three decades ago
'Broken promises'
The YSRCP has, however, lambasted the Chandrababu Naidu-led government, calling its time in office so far as 'a year of authoritarian and deceptive governance'.
Speaking to ThePrint, YSRCP MLA Tatiparthi Chandrasekhar accused Naidu of betraying the people of Andhra Pradesh with his unfulfilled 'Super Six' promises 'for one whole year.'
'Except Deepam, under which also only one free gas cylinder was given, none of the Super Six promises was even initiated during Naidu's first year. Naidu's rule is a saga of deceit and broken promises,' Tatiparthi said.
The YSRCP leader criticised Naidu for 'the non-implementation of the Rs 32,400-crore Aadabidda Nidhi scheme yet'.
'This is a betrayal of women's trust,' the MLA charged, adding that during Jagan's tenure, Rs 19,189 crore was disbursed under the YSR Cheyutha, Rs 2,029 crore under the YSR Kapu Nestham, and Rs 1,876 crore under the YSR EBC Nestham, 'schemes that Naidu scrapped after coming to power.'
Naidu, meanwhile, also accused Jagan of tearing apart the state during his five years in power, with 'no trace of development'.
'Despite challenges, we are pushing through. I review the finance department for an hour every day. The poorest of the poor are among us. We aim to eliminate poverty and bridge economic inequalities,' said the CM.
Once the NDA took charge, Naidu said, 204 Anna Canteens were reopened across the state, providing subsidised, hygienic meals at Rs 5 to the needy every day.
'To support fishermen, Rs 259 crore was transferred to 1.29 lakh beneficiaries, whereas the previous regime gave only Rs 109 crore to 1.09 lakh beneficiaries. Under social welfare pensions, while the previous government spent Rs 21,631 crore annually, our coalition government has allocated Rs 34,000 crore.'
'For the NDA, welfare and development are two eyes. We are generating wealth, increasing income, and investing it back into development and welfare. Many questioned how a state in ruins could be revived. I made it clear: tough times are not for backing down,' said the CM.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: Naidu govt approves 10-hr workdays, night shifts for women in bid to attract more industry, investment
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