Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy on Monday, said that the government will increase the number of beneficiaries under YSR Pension scheme and clear the debts of women self-help groups as promised.

During a review meeting on District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Project Directors (PD) held at Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) office at Vijayawada, he said that seven lakh more beneficiaries will be added to YSR Pension scheme from January 2020.

The Government will clear Rs 27, 186 crores dues to banks taken by 9.33 lakh Women Self Help Groups (Podupu Sangams) and make them debt free.

‘DRDA PDs must go to field work for 15 days every month,’ says Minister and asked the officials to monitor the execution of the prestigious ‘Navaratnalu’ scheme, rural development projects, and various other government schemes in the state.

The government will waive Podupu Sangam loans in four installments from the next financial year. ‘9.33 lakhs Podupu Sangams in the state have to pay loan amount of Rs. 27,168 crores. Women will be relieved from this debt. By April 11, this (financial) year women have to pay Rs. 1,823 crores. And the government is also ready to bear this burden.’ said Minister. For the interest of the first five months, Rs. 760 crores will be directly deposited in the loan accounts.

 ‘The budget for self-helping groups will be increased to Rs. 1800 crores from Rs. 900 crores under woman treasury. Financial assistance that is given for women will be increased to one lakh from Rs. 50,000,’ said Minister.

For the first time, the office facility will be provided to 168 agri-producers associations. The government has decided to set up an input shop that includes 76 godowns to deliver quality seeds and fertilizers and to store agri-products. Some 92 products based processing units will be set up and that will be run by farmers’ associations.

Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary Gopalakrishna Dwivedi and SERP CEO Raja Babu were present in the review meeting.

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