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The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has fulfilled 85% of its election promises, says I&PR Minister Parthasarathy
The NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has delivered 85% of the promises made at the time of the 2024 elections in spite of the financial crisis it inherited from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) dispensation, according to Minister for Information & Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathy. Due priority had been accorded to the Talliki Vandanam scheme, under which a sum of ₹15,000 each was being remitted into the bank accounts of the mothers, irrespective of the number of children, Mr. Parthasarathy told the media here on Saturday. 'But the YSRCP is spreading lies. It has accused HRD Minister N. Lokesh of pocketing ₹2,000 crore of the scheme amount. Nothing better can be expected from the YSRCP, whose rule is replete with failures and corrupt deeds,' the Minister said. Mr. Parthasarathy said the NDA government was saddled with a staggering debt burden of ₹10 lakh crore due to the YSRCP's mishandling of finances. In contrast, the coalition government was making sincere efforts to achieve the Swarnandhra Vision-2047, for which it set a target of 15% annual growth rate now itself, he said. 'The government has so far attracted investments totalling nearly ₹7 lakh crore, and it is working on a mission to create 20 lakh jobs and impart the required skills to the youth,' he added. Mr. Parthasarathy said the YSRCP dispensation might have extended financial support to the school and college students under the Amma Vodiand Vidya Deevena schemes, but it was not bothered about providing them jobs, which should be the ultimate goal of any government. The YSRCP government had extended financial assistance to only one child in a family under the Amma Vodi scheme, the Minister said. 'The YSRCP is a party that does not attend the Legislative Assembly sessions and, even if it does, the purpose is to achieve its political objectives,' he said. A sum of ₹34,000 crore had been disbursed under the NTR Bharosa pension scheme in the last one year, the Minister said, adding that farmers would receive financial assistance under the Annadata Sukhibhava in a month. While the previous government had given an average of ₹30,000 per household under its flagship programmes, the NDA government disbursed ₹1.04 lakh per household under the the Super Six schemes, he said. Referring to the bail granted by the Supreme Court to journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao in the derogatory remarks case, Mr. Parthasarathy said the YSRCP was in a jubilant mood about it, unmindful of the fact that the court had rejected the bail pleas of several corrupt leaders and other criminals who looted the State in 2019-24.
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Lokesh's ultimatum to YSRCP on 'Talliki Vandanam'
Vijayawada: Minister for Human Resources and IT Nara Lokesh on Friday gave an ultimatum to leaders of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) to prove their claim that he had arranged to collect Rs 2,000 illicitly from the Rs 15,000 being disbursed to mothers under the 'Talliki Vandanam' scheme. Lokesh demanded that the YSRCP must take down their defamatory tweet within 24 hours, failing which legal action would be launched against the party. He accused the YSRCP of a pattern of repeating false allegations to establish its unfounded charge. In fact, Lokesh alleged, there were irregularities in the implementation of the 'Amma Vodi' scheme during the previous YSRCP government, including the furnishing of false accounts regarding student gross enrollment ratios. Addressing the media, the IT Minister highlighted that under the 'Talliki Vandanam', a key promise under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu's 'Super Six' programme, the state government has successfully credited Rs 8,745 crore to the accounts of mothers of 67.27 lakh students. This amount is being credited to mothers of students from Class 1 to Intermediate first year. In cases where a mother is absent, the amount will be credited to the father or guardian, and for orphanages, the District Collector will assume responsibility. Lokesh emphasised the establishment of a robust redressal mechanism, allowing citizens to report grievances regarding non-receipt of funds through the Mana Mitra app or at village and ward secretariats. The minister provided a breakdown of the beneficiaries, stating that amounts for students from Class 4 to 10 were credited to 30 lakh BCs, 12 lakh SCs, 4.26 lakh STs, 66,000 minorities, and 8.5 lakh EBCs. He added that Rs 13,000 was credited to 18.55 lakh mothers with one child. For those with two children, Rs 26,000 was credited to 14.55 lakh mothers, covering 29.10 lakh students. Additionally, funds were credited for 6.3 lakh students with three children. Lokesh contrasted the foregoing figures with those of the previous YSRCP government's 'Amma Vodi' scheme, which benefited only 42 lakh students, whereas the current NDA government had extended 'Talliki Vandanam' to 67.27 lakh students. He noted that while the YSRCP government spent Rs 5,540 crore, the NDA government was spending Rs 8,745 crore on 'Talliki Vandanam,' an additional Rs 3,205 crore, projecting an extra expenditure of Rs 16,000 crore over five years. The minister further informed that he had reviewed the scheme's implementation with the Finance Minister and found that 2 percent of mothers' accounts were inactive, for which SMS notifications were being sent to prompt their activation. Regarding school preparations, Lokesh stated that student kits, including books and bags, were distributed to 80 per cent of students on the first day of school reopening. He assured that mid-day meals would be served with fine rice. As part of ongoing reforms, the state government was focusing on a 'one class, one teacher' norm, which had been implemented in 9,600 schools. Additionally, government schools were receiving free power supply. The minister concluded by stating that the teacher transfer process would be completed by Monday.
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
Naidu rolls out ‘Thalliki Vandanam', expanding Jagan's Amma Vodi scheme. 24 lakh more students covered
Though Naidu's Thalliki Vandanam (meaning 'salutation to mother' in Telugu) promise was inspired and a recreation of YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy's Amma Vodi (mother's lap) scheme, it is an upgrade, expanding the ambit and number of beneficiaries of the aid. 'Thalliki Vandanam' was one of the 'Super Six' guarantees in the manifesto of the Telugu Desam Party-Jana Sena Party (TDP-JSP), which helped the combine, in alliance with the BJP, win the state elections in a landslide victory against the YSR Congress Party last year. Hyderabad: Starting its second year in power in Andhra Pradesh, the Chandrababu Naidu government has initiated disbursal of the much-awaited Rs 15,000 financial assistance per annum per child to 42.69 lakh eligible mothers sending their children to school. Unlike Amma Vodi assistance limited to one child per mother during Jagan's rule, Thalliki Vandanam aid is being given regardless of the number of school-going children in an eligible family. 'Our promise was that no matter how many children a family has, every student would receive Thalliki Vandanam support, and today we have kept our word, as the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) government marks its first year,' Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu told reporters at the first anniversary event Thursday in Amaravati. Thus, while 42.61 lakh students were covered earlier under Jagan's scheme, the coverage now is 67.27 lakh—an increase of 24.66 lakh beneficiaries. Though an electoral assurance, Thalliki Vandanam financial aid to all children in a family under the welfare programme is seen as part of Naidu's mission to maintain or improve the demographic dividend, even as fertility rates dip in Andhra Pradesh. Of the 67.27 lakh beneficiaries, 29.82 lakh are from Backward Classes, 11.76 lakh Scheduled Castes, 4.26 lakh Scheduled Tribes, 66,500 from minority communities, and 8.44 lakh from 'Economically Backward Classes'. 'This is a step toward demographic equity,' Naidu said, noting that there are 18,55,760 families with one child, 29,10,644 with two, 6,32,052 with three, and 80,212 with four children. 'Across South India, population is declining. Once, parents with more than two children were disqualified from contesting in local body elections. Now, with fewer than two children becoming common, such disqualifications have become superfluous,' Naidu added. Both Amma Vodi and Thalliki Vandanam are direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes, in which funds are credited directly to the accounts of mothers or recognised guardians of children. However, much like under Jagan, Rs 2,000 out of every Rs 15,000 per student will be deducted at source from the beneficiary and utilised for the overall development of the education ecosystem, i.e. towards schools infra maintenance, hygiene/sanitation, etc. 'While the YRSCP disbursed Rs 5,540 crore annually to beneficiaries, we are allocating Rs 8,745 crore, which is Rs 3,205 crore more,' said Naidu, as all necessary government orders were issued from the school education department Thursday, the first anniversary of his fourth term in office. Overall, under the scheme, Rs 10,091 crore will be spent this year, of which Rs 1,346 crore will go towards improving school infrastructure. Also Read: Karnataka protests 'ban' on its Totapuri mangoes entering AP, Naidu govt says 'rescue your own farmers' Thalliki Vandanam Thalliki Vandanam was launched to incentivise underprivileged parents to send their children for formal education, and focuses on making school education more accessible and inclusive, as well as improve learning outcomes. The scheme is applicable from Classes I to XII (i.e., including intermediate education) in all recognised government, private aided and private unaided schools and junior colleges, including residential institutions, in Andhra Pradesh from the 2025-26 academic year. Apart from the weak financial status of families, eligibility criteria include 75 percent attendance in the previous academic year. The scheme was not implemented in the previous academic year, though, prompting YSRCP to accuse Naidu of reneging on his 'Super Six' promises in the first year of governance itself. On Thursday, YSRCP MLA Tatiparthi Chandrasekhar termed the ruling coalition's one year governance as authoritarian and deceptive. Speaking to reporters at YSRCP central office at Tadepalli, Tatiparthi accused Naidu of 'betraying' Andhra Pradesh's people with unfulfilled 'Super Six' promises. 'Naidu's rule is a saga of deceit and broken promises.' He said the Thalliki Vandanam scheme covered only 67.27 lakh of 87.41 lakh eligible mothers, 'short-changing them by Rs 5,000 crore'. He also disapproved of the deduction of Rs 2,000 at source. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: 'Freeze seats or increase proportionately': Andhra CM Naidu limits Modi govt's delimitation options
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
On Andhra Pradesh government's first anniversary, CM Chandrababu Naidu launches Talliki Vandanam scheme
VIJAYAWADA: Stating that the coalition government is extending financial benefits under the Talliki Vandanam scheme to 67 lakh students, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that his government would be providing support to 24.65 lakh more students compared to the previous government. He added that a total of Rs 10,091 crore, including Rs 1,346 crore for school development, would be spent on the scheme. 'We promised that, regardless of how many children a family has, every student would receive support under Talliki Vandanam, and today, we have fulfilled that promise. As the coalition government marks its first anniversary, we are implementing this crucial commitment, one of the 'Super Six' guarantees,' Naidu said. Addressing a press conference along with Minister for HRD and IT Nara Lokesh on Thursday, marking one year of the coalition government in office, Naidu stated, 'There is a major difference between Talliki Vandanam and the previous government's Amma Vodi. They covered only 42,61,965 students, whereas we are covering 67,27,164, an increase of 24,65,199 beneficiaries. They spent Rs 5,540 crore; we are allocating Rs 8,745 crore, which is Rs 3,205 crore more.' To ensure transparency, lists of beneficiaries will be displayed at village and ward secretariats.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Welfare & development 2 eyes of our govt: CM
Vijayawada: Asserting that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Andhra Pradesh was diligently fulfilling all promises given in its election manifesto, Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said: 'Welfare and development are the two eyes of his government.' Speaking to the media along with IT Minister Nara Lokesh on coalition government completing one year in office here on Thursday, the Chief Minister highlighted significant strides his government made in welfare schemes, drawing direct comparisons with the previous YSR Congress Party government to underscore increased benefits for citizens now. He described Talliki Vandanam as the most important of the government's Super Six welfare schemes, which will offer Rs 15,000 annually to every school-going child in a household. The Chief Minister noted that the TDP-led government would spend Rs 10,091 crore under 'Talliki Vandanam', underscoring its commitment to supporting education. "We promised that no matter how many children a family has, every student will receive support under 'Talliki Vandanam', and today we have kept our word," Chief Minister Naidu stated. He announced that the path-breaking scheme would benefit 67.27 lakh students. Naidu emphasised the substantial difference between the current 'Talliki Vandanam' scheme and the previous government's 'Amma Vodi'. "They only covered 42,61,965 students, while we are covering 67,27,164 students - an increase of 24,65,199 beneficiaries," he explained, adding, "they spent Rs 5,540 crore; we are allocating Rs 8,745 crore, which is Rs 3,205 crore more."To ensure transparency, beneficiary lists will be prominently displayed at village and ward secretariats. Any technical glitches or issues that applicants face will be addressed promptly, with a deadline set for June 26 for corrections, and the final list to be published on June 30, he said. Further, he noted that 'Annadata Sukhibava' (Rs 20,000 per annum for farmers) will be implemented on June 20 and free bus travel for women from August 15. The Chief Minister criticised the previous YSRCP government, stating, "In the last five years, the state was torn apart. There was no trace of development." He accused the previous government of mortgaging state revenues for 25 years for loans, even pledging Tahsildar offices, and neglecting timely salary payments for employees and pensioners. "We resolved all these issues," he said. According to him, since taking charge, the NDA government reopened 204 Anna Canteens, serving 4 crore meals. He reiterated his promise to generate 20 lakh jobs and said that MoUs for Rs 9.50 lakh crore investments were already signed, with a potential to create 8.5 lakh jobs. He also mentioned that Nara Lokesh was making concerted efforts to attract investments and generate employment opportunities. "Despite challenges, we are pushing through. I review the Finance Department for an hour every day," CM Naidu said. "We aim at eliminating poverty and bridging economic inequalities. The NDA government is committed to improving the living standards of every citizen."
