AP CM releases Rs 194 cr to handloom weavers

Venkatagiri (Tirupati dist) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday released Rs 193.64 crore towards financial assistance for handloom weaver families under YSR Nethanna Nestham benefiting 80,686 weavers owning looms.

An amount of Rs 24,000 each will be directly deposited into their bank accounts. Addressing a huge public meeting before releasing the amount here, he said that the scheme, started in 2019, is being implemented every year for the well-being of the weaving community.

While former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu cheated the weavers by defaulting on his promises of giving free houses, constructing sheds for looms and on financial aid to the kin of weavers who committed suicide, the present government has extended online selling facility of handloom products, besides paying ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of 71 weavers who committed suicide during TDP term, he said.

The previous TDP government hardly spent of Rs 400 core on weavers’ welfare in the last four years while the YSRCP Government has so far spent Rs 2,835.06 crore of which Rs 969.77 crore was disbursed under YSR Nethanna Nestham, Rs 1396.45 crore paid towards pensions and Rs 468.84 crore paid to APCO, which included Rs 103 crore arrears due from the previous government.

Under YSR Nethanna Nestham, being implemented for the fifth consecutive year, each eligible weaver family has so far received Rs 1.20 lakh, he stated.

When added the benefits of other welfare schemes like YSR Rythu Bharosa, Aarogyasri, Cheyutha, Aasara, Ammavodi, housing (DBT), free crop insurance, Vidya Deevena, Jagananna Thodu, Sunna Vaddi and YSR Bima, the total benefits accrued to the weaving community amount to Rs 3,706.16 crore, the Chief Minister said.

Welfare schemes

Listing out welfare schemes, the Chief Minister said that so far an amount of Rs 2.25 lakh crore has been transparently spent on the welfare of the poor. The government has created history in implementation of welfare schemes, he said, adding that 30 lakh house-sites were distributed to women of the weaker sections and 22 lakh houses are under construction. Rs 26,000 crore was disbursed to 44 lakh women under Amma Vodi, one crore women of self-help groups benefited to the tune of Rs 19,178 crore. “We have spent Rs 3,615 crore for zero interest scheme, Rs 14,129 crore for Cheyuta, Rs 31,000 crore for Rythu Bharosa benefiting more than 50 lakh farmers and Rs 15,000 crore for Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena,” he said, adding that the entire country is looking at AP over economic empowerment of women.

The education sector has become vibrant with ongoing reforms like English medium, subject teacher concept, Nadu Nedu, digitalisation of class rooms with IFPs, tablets for Class eight students and Jagananna Goru Muddha.

The village economy is bouncing back with RBKs handholding farmers at every step while family doctors and village clinics are extending preventive health care services. The State has added 2.06 lakh government jobs taking the total number of government employees to six lakh. Government has also given full rights to farmers on dotted lands and assigned lands.

“We have increased the number of districts to 26 and added 1,600 new 108 and 104 ambulance vehicles. YSR Aarogyasri accepts 3,250 ailments as against 1,000 in the past. We have also introduced Aarogya Aasara and extended exemplary public healthcare during pandemic times besides merging RTC with the government and establishing 17 new medical colleges, constructing four new ports and 10 new fishing harbours,” he said. Fifty per cent of the nominated posts and contracts are being given to the SCs, STs, BCs and minorities through a specially made Act. With great responsibility and love and affection for the weaker sections, the Government has implemented 98 per cent of the election promises, he said.