AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's Rachabanda -- mass contact programme is set to commence in the villages after Ugadi - the Telugu New Year celebrations which falls April 13th this year.

As per reports, the programme is likely to take off from East Godavari district, but a confirmation is awaited. As part of this, the Chief Minister will tour villages, receive their grievances, and resolve them at the earliest. The Rachabanda concept was ideated by his father, former chief minister Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, and YS Jagan plans to follow suit.

The officials of various departments have been instructed to resolve any grievances related to welfare schemes such as ration cards, housing sites, and other issues related to the people before Ugadi. The Chief Minister wants the issues to be sorted before the programme and has directed authorities to address all issues that could lead to complaints from the public.

The Chief Minister was supposed to conduct the programme earlier, but it was stalled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged lockdown of thereafter.

In July, he had reviewed the prevailing COVID-19 situation and measures being enforced to contain the dreaded virus. He instructed the officials that every eligible beneficiary should get the house site pattas and Collectors should review whether the grievances of the people are being resolved within the stipulated time. Once the COVID-19 situation subsides in the state, I will tour the villages and personally take stock of the implementation of schemes in the state and will address their problems, he stated in July last year.

The Chief Minister now plans to go to villages and talk directly to the villagers about whether they had received the welfare schemes benefits provided by the Government so far.

The CM wants to know directly by talking to the people about any sort of corruption during the implementation of the schemes. The Chief Minister is also mulling the thought of having a public rally to address the people of the State. Arrangements to this effect are being made for a programme after Ugadi and a decision will be taken after discussions with the officials.