DWCRA Women Treated As Defaulters Under TDP Regime

By P Charitha

West Godavari: The launch of the ' Pasupu Kumkuma' Scheme by the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, as in the case of his other welfare schemes, is leading to confusion among the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA )and Self Help Group (SHG) women in the state. Under the scheme, women who are a part of DWCRA and SHG would be given Rs 10,000 in three instalments. It is reported that more than 94 lakh DWCRA women will be given this amount as a grant under the scheme.

Contradictions in Loan Waiver

Now with the Government promising to waive the loans taken by these women which was made by Chandrababu himself, where does one place the statement made by his Minister for Social Welfare Paritala Sunitha? She had stated that the loans given to the DWCRA women were not waived by the government. "No loans were waived by the government, from 2014-15 to 2017-18. With respect to the outstanding loans of Rs 11,069.40 crore, no kind of loan waiver was given," the minister stated in the letter in the Assembly itself. And when asked whether the government had any plans or proposals to waive the loans, she said that no such proposals were formulated by the government. But the Chief Minister continues to make claims to the contrary in his public meetings, that all DWCRA loans have been waived. Added to this, he launched a new scheme for women under the title Pasupu Kumkuma.

Also Read: Paritala Sunitha Puts TDP In A Spot

Pasupu Kumkuma a new drama to woo women

Under the scheme the Rs 10,000 would be payable under three installments, where Rs 2500 was to be given on February 1, Rs 3500 on March 8 and the final installment of Rs 4000 would be given on April 5. Another question related to the scheme is whether with the elections due in the coming two months once the election notification schedule is released, will these cheques be valid?

Out of the Rs 9,300 crore allocated for this, the state government has granted only Rs 4,000 crore and till the month of April, Rs 1700 crore was sanctioned, adding up to Rs 5,700 crore.

DWCRA women treated as defaulters

Believing his words many women stopped paying interest in the hope that their loans were waived, but instead with interest added to their loans, they were declared defaulters and their names were displayed on notice boards in Panchayati Raj offices and banks. They were also being sent court notices and officials had come to their houses and harassed them.

Post-dated cheques issued to clear old dues

In a recent incident in Kamayyapalem in Jeelugumalli Mandal of West Godavari district, the TDP government's deceit had come to light. The DWCRA women complained that only a few of them were able to get the cheques. And when they took the cheques the bank officials were treating this as payment for the loans taken earlier. Disheartened, many women were seen leaving the bank wondering as to what the scheme was all about.

When Chandrababu promised to waive the loans for the DWCRA Women and SHGs, many women stopped paying the interest amount. But the loan process continued and penalties were added to the interest amounts categorising these women as defaulters.

Now with these Pasupu Kumkuma cheques, which were also post dated, is leaving the women fuming over what their future status is going to be. In another incident in Anantapur DWCRA members were forcibly made to promise to vote for the TDP and only then would the cheques be distributed they were told. Those who resisted were mercilessly attacked and Minister Paritala Sunita's brother Murali also indulged in stone -pelting and attacking the hapless women.

Also Read: Minister Paritala Sunitha’s Brother Attacks Protesting DWCRA Women

The promise of a loan waiver never happened and now a payment of Rs 10,000 in three installments under the Pasupu Kumkuma scheme where the money given to the poor women is used as payments for interest and defaulted amounts, promising post-dated cheques , forcibly extracting promises that they vote for the TDP or else the cheques would not be disbursed, attacking women if they didn't accept . A video of women being forced to promise by TDP leaders to vote for the ruling party in a temple, has gone viral.

This kind of continued harassment faced by DWCRA women time and again shows to prove that Chandrababu Naidu only cares for electoral gain and that every promise he makes is conditional and is twisted by the TDP for its own advantage.

Also Read: Expose Chandrababu’s Cheat-Sheet: YS Jagan