Andhra Pradesh Marching Forward Towards Change

AMARAVATI: Six months is not a long period to achieve major goals, six months maybe a time span to bring about revolutionary changes, six months may not be a period that can undo the damages done during the past five years, but that was enough time for Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to show intent, path and direction in which the governance is heading.

The intent of sincerity by putting in efforts to fulfill the poll promises, the path and direction which leads towards corruption-free and transparent governance where words match with deeds and manifesto manifests into reality to amplify the public administration during the past six months.

Summing it up, the first six months of the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy Government has been going forward implementing its manifesto taking forward the concept of a welfare state.

Debt pile left by TDP

The road was bumpy and the ride was not that easy as the empty coffers were heckling at every step and the heap of debts and dues that the TDP government has left behind for the next government to clear were certainly hindrances and obstacles in the way of taking forward the welfare schemes.

The torrent of false propaganda, the deluge of allegations and distortions notwithstanding, during the first six months YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has taken many path-breaking decisions, implemented welfare schemes that have reached directly to the beneficiaries and the imprint and impact were tangible for everyone to see.

Transparent and corruption-free governance

Tangible as people had seen, minutes after the launch of a welfare scheme, the amount being directly credited to the bank accounts of beneficiaries. Transparent and corruption-free governance are not mere slogans, but like an open book all data is been displayed publicly and a Citizens helpline 14400 was started to receive complaints on corruption. Lok Ayukta was also set up.

Spandana Redressal Programme

Spandana (Response) has been the most successful programme and the complaints are received every week and a receipt is given specifying the time in which the grievance would be redressed with a monitoring pyramid of hierarchy in place.

Reverse tendering

Reverse tendering process has saved the Government Rs 1,500 crore, major chunk being from Polavaram and the State passing a legislation setting up Judicial Preview of tenders has been a landmark decision.

Empowerment of weaker sections

Social justice and empowerment of weaker sections being the hallmark of the Government are tangible in the composition of the State Cabinet with 60 % of the berths being given to SC, ST, BC, Minorities, and BCs. Of the five Deputy Chief Minister posts, four are from weaker sections besides the Speaker. The Government believes that BCs are Backbone Class and not Backward Castes.

Education, Medicare, agriculture, and the empowerment of weaker sections in economic, political and social spheres have hogged the limelight during the past six months while detractors have been busy searching for the loopholes that were not there and launching a smear campaign to demoralize the government, without any success.

Sand mining issue

The detractors tried to flood the sand issue by inundating all the avenues with false claims and allegations but when the water receded, the ebb was so sudden that they were at a loss for words.

Implementation of English medium in schools

When they took up the baton of being protagonists of Telugu against the Government's decision of launching English medium from primary school level, they fell flat as their hypocrisy came into full play after being exposed as preachers and not followers. Their kin going to English medium schools and some of them even running English medium schools, they minced words when asked why should not children of the marginalized sections of society go to English medium schools. The social emancipation from the discrimination shown all these years became a full-blown issue and the detractors withdrew with tails between their legs.

Amma Vodi

Education is getting its due priority, perhaps for the first time in the recent past, with the visionary YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his government introducing English medium from primary level and the Amma Vodi scheme (to be launched) which will incentivize the mother with Rs 15,000 annually for sending her children to school up to Intermediate level and full fees reimbursement for professional courses besides paying up to Rs 20,000 in two instalments towards hostel and mess charges which takes care of the financial part of the student. Added to this is the setting up Skill Development Centres in all the 25 Parliamentary constituencies that will prepare the student to face global competition as an effective workforce. A legislation was passed to provide 75% of jobs to locals in the industry as well. The whole packaging is done in such a manner that the amount being spent is being treated as capital expenditure.

Village/ Ward secretariats -a historical achievement in ensuring employment and decentralization of administration

At a time when employment opportunities country-wide are shrinking due to recession, in Andhra Pradesh, the graph started looking northwards with over 4 lakh people getting jobs in the first four months of governance with the setting up of Village and Ward Secretariats towards decentralization of administration. The Village and Ward Volunteers will deliver the government schemes to the doors of the beneficiaries and the entire data will be displayed at the respective Secretariat premises. An outlet would be set up near the Village Secretariat which will supply quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides to farmers. A Corporation for Outsourcing employees to weed out middlemen was started for transparency.

Revival of YSR Aarogyasri

When it comes to YSR Aarogyasri, the scheme was made available in 150 hospitals in other cities like Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru and the Chief Minister spoke to patients availing the facility at distant places through teleconference which is a testament to the style of functioning of the Government. All treatments above Rs 1,000 were brought under YSR Aarogyasri scheme. Pension would be paid to people with chronic diseases and also for the post-surgery rest period. The budget allocation for 2019-2020 for Aarogyasri is Rs 1,740 cores.

The YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM Kisan, which began in October, will benefit over 48 lakh farmers who will be paid Rs 13,500 in three installments. July 8 will be observed as Farmers’ Day to commemorate Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s birthday.

Navarathnalu implementation

Old-age pensions, total prohibition in phases, 25 lakh house pattas to weaker sections by Ugadi, YSR Vahana Mitra for auto, taxi drivers, YSR Matsyakara Bharosa for fishermen and their family members, YSR Netanna Nestam to be launched on December 21 for weavers, YSR Navasakam to artisans and Cards for various schemes, Nadu –Nedu which gives a comparative pictorial representation of schools and hospitals before and after the facelift, YSR Navodayam for MSMEs, YSR Kanti Velugu, Supply of quality rice though PDS, YSR Aasara, hike of pay of Asha Workers, sanitary workers, Kapu Nestham with Rs 1,101 crores and Rs 15,000 to women who crossed 45 years, steps to merge RTC with Government among others are welfare schemes of the Government.

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