VIJAYAWADA: Pointing out that no other State in the country was extending Rs 3,000 per month as social security pension, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said his government was spending over Rs 24,000 crore per annum on pensions for 66 lakh beneficiaries.
Drawing a comparison with other States, the YSRC president said Telangana ranked second in the country for spending Rs 12,000 crore for pensions.
While interacting with people at Tuggali of Pattikonda constituency in Kurnool district on the fourth day of his ‘Memanta Siddham’ bus yatra, Jagan said the previous TDP government spent only Rs 39 lakh for social security pension.
Stating that there are 10,000 people in the two secretariats of Tuggali and Ratana villages, he asserted that his government has brought in revolutionary changes, unlike the previous TDP regime. He also sought their feedback on the schemes.
Elaborating on the various initiatives taken by the government, Jagan said, “Tuggali has a population of 5,200 people and 1,748 households. Various welfare schemes have helped 95% households in the village. Similarly, in Ratana, the government has extended Rs 26.59 crore, covering 95% of the total 1,569 households.”
Lashing out at the TDP, he said, “Carrying out any work, whether it was building toilets, disbursing pensions or subsidised loans, was not possible without the involvement of bribes under the previous regime. In the last 58 months, Rs 29.65 crore has been deposited to the beneficiaries in Tuggali village alone.”
Further, he also mentioned the number of beneficiaries in the housing scheme (66 houses to Tuggali and 122 houses to Ratana) and Aarogyasri and Aarogya Aasara scheme, which provides free medical treatment.
Jagan explained how the secretariat and volunteer system, besides the Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), have benefited the people. He also highlighted the reforms brought in the education sector, including introduction of English Medium, bilingual text books, tabs to class VIII students and digital classrooms in government schools.
Reiterating that the election is not just to elect an MLA or an MP, he urged people to vote for the YSRC so that the welfare schemes and reforms can continue to improve the livelihood of the poor.
The YSRC chief’s bus yatra received an overwhelming response as it entered Anantapur from Kurnool district. Scores of people flooded Gooty as Jagan’s caravan reached the town. The road show continued for approximately seven kilometers for about two hours.