Jagan disburses Rs.508 crore under YSR Kapu Nestham

Gollaprolu (Kakinada Dist.) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday assailed the Telugu Desam Party and its 'friendly media for launching a misinformation campaign against the YSR Congress Party Government due to political jealousy.

He was speaking at a meeting held here in connection with the distribution of Rs.508.18 crore under YSR Kapu Nestham for the third consecutive time. The distribution will benefit 3,38,792 women belonging to Kapu, Balija, Ontari, Telaga castes across the State.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government had credited Rs.16,256 crore through DBT for the Kapu community through various welfare schemes in the last three years, where Rs.1492 crore was spent alone on YSR Kapu Nestam. He said that though the scheme was not part of the manifesto, it has been initiated to benefit women by providing financial assistance of Rs.15,000 per annum, similar to YSR Cheyutha to empower women with business opportunities.

Drawing a comparison with the previous TDP government, he said that only Rs.400 crore per annum was spent for Kapu, Balija, Telaga and Ontari castes during the TDP rule, while the current government had almost spent over Rs.32,296 crore in the past three years through both DBT and non-DBT schemes benefiting lakhs of people. He stated that through DBT, funds of welfare schemes are being directly deposited into the beneficiaries' accounts without any corruption or discrimination and said that DPT( Dochuko, Panchuko, Thinuko) was effectively implemented during N.Chandrababu' Naidu-led TDP regime.

Taking a dig at the gang of four including Chandrababu Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and a section of the media, the Chief Minister said that they were all trying to mislead people and secure power. He said that Pawan Kalyan has been trying to sell the Kapu votes to Chandrababu Naidu. He asked people whether they want DBT governance or Chandrababu Naidu's DPT rule.

Recalling his tour in North Andhra districts during the HudHud cyclone, the Chief Minister said that Chandrababu Naidu had only distributed stale 'pulihora' packets to the flood victims and provided ration of 10 kg rice to selected members by Janmabhoomi Committees. Unlike the previous government, the current government had put officials on high alert, distributed ration supplies of 25 kg, and even provided financial aid of Rs.2,000 to every affected family, he said, adding that Chandrababu Naidu could not show a single person who didn't receive these benefits. He called on the people to decide whose rule they want.

During the visit, he sanctioned certain development works in the district. Ministers Dadisetti Raja, Seediri Appalaraju, Chelluboina Venugopala Krishna, MP Vanga Geetha, MLA Kurasala Kanna Babu and other officials were present,