On the eve of International Women’s Day, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy released Rs.5060.49crore under YSR Cheyutha towards financial assistance for the fourth consecutive year benefiting 26,98,931 poor women of 45 to 60 years belonging to SC, ST, BC and minorities. .
The amount would be directly credited into their bank accounts across the State over a period of 14 days from March 7.Addressing a huge public meeting before releasing the amount with the click of a button here on Thursday, the Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh is the only state which has been implementing unique welfare programmes like YSR Cheyutha and Aasara for the empowerment of women.
Calling upon the people to see the difference between the TDP and YSRCP Governments, he said that the women-friendly Government took several measures for the social, political and economic empowerment of the women in the last 58 months,
He recalled how TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and his foster son Pawan Kalyan cheated people by throwing the election manifesto into dust bin after making promises in the name of Maha Lakshmi, Kuteera Lakshmi and Pandanti Bidda schemes before the 2014 elections.
The Chief Minister said that Naidu-foster son duo circulated signed manifesto copies door-to-door promising Rs. 14,205 crore loan waiver to self help groups, subsidy on 12 cylinders per year at Rs.100 each, creation of women protection force, Rs. 25,000 deposit on birth of girl child in the name of Maha Lakshmi scheme, belt shops dissolution, Rs. 10,000 assistance under Pandanti Bidda scheme, cycles for school-going girls and smart phones for women,
However, after coming to power in 2014, they threw away the manifesto into the dustbin after naming the schemes after Goddess Maha Lakshmi, he said, cautioning people that the duo is now approaching voters in the name of Maha Sakti and other schemes.
Chandrababu, who personifies deception, has no respect even for Goddess Maha Lakshmi, so much so that he is cheating people in the name of Goddess, he said.Unlike Chandrababu Naidu, who had enhanced social pensions two months ahead of the elections, who never thought of the women’s empowerment and who had made 143 promises to BCs but never implemented them, the present Government started implementing various welfare schemes for making women economically self-sufficient soon after coming to power, he said.
Government has been extending a financial assistance of Rs. 18, 750 each every year under YSR Cheyutha, and so far, it has transparently disbursed a whopping Rs. 19,189.60 crore benefiting 33, 14, 916 poor women who received a total of Rs. 75,000 each, he said.
The YSR Cheyutha beneficiaries have also received another Rs.29,588crore through other schemes of Navaratnalu and totally benefitted to the tune of Rs. 56, 188 crore, he said.While the TDP has no history of doing anything for the sake of women, he said that Government’s efforts in the last 58 months have resulted in 1,69,000 women launching Kirana shops , 85,630 women launching cloth shops, 3, 80, 466 women purchasing buffaloes and cows, 134, 514 women owning goats, 88923 women doing food products business, 3,98,422women selling agricultural–related products and 2,59,997 women running other businesses.
Schemes like Amma Vodi, Vidya Deevena, Vasathi Deevena, YSR Aasara, YSR Sunna Vaddi, Kapu Nestham and EBC Nestham have also helped women to a great extent, he said, pointing out the loan recovery rate of self-help groups now stands at 99. 83 percent.
While TDP never thought of political empowerment of women, this Government gave 50 per cent of the nominated posts to women through a specially made Act besides appointing women police at the village and ward secretariats and filling 50 per cent of the posts with women, he said, outlining that the Disha App, introduced for the safety of women, was downloaded by 1.3crore women.
Government has also distributed 31 lakh house site pattas to women and 22 lakh houses are under construction, he said, adding this is the only Government that has disbursed Rs. 2, 65,000 crore through DBT welfare schemes and is seeking votes based on its performance.
He appealed to people to see the difference between Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP that has no political credibility and YSRCP that has fulfilled 99 per cent of its election promises.“Don’t be misled by the false and impracticable promises of Naidu and his foster son. You should work as my army and star campaigners and bring victory to YSRCP if you believe you have benefitted from the welfare schemes,” the Chief Minister urged people, adding that Jagan should continue to overhaul the rotten system completely and continue the welfare agenda.
In response to the appeal of Industries and IT Minister G. Amarnath, the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs. 21crore for development works.
