Rama Krishna Sangem
YSR Congress president and AP Chief Minister YS Jagan MohanReddy has promised not just to continue all his welfare schemes, but also gradually increase them in the next five years, if he is returned to power in the elections. At the same time, he outlined more infrastructure growth like more professional universities, colleges, airport, ports and a permanent state capital at Visakhapatnam.
Jagan unveiled his election manifesto –2024 at his official residence in Tadepalli near Guntur on April 27, Saturday. What stood out among his two page brief synopses of poll promises was higher monthly pensions for old and destitute people from the present Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500. Similarly, he announced continuation of all existing welfare schemes for different social groups like fishermen, shepherds, budding lawyers etc.
Jagan claimed to have distributed Rs 2.83 lakh crore to women members of families under different welfare measures in the last five years. Of this, Rs 1.89 lakh crore was given under direct benefit transfers and another Rs 94, 347 crore through non-direct benefit transfers. “My government has implemented 99 per cent of the poll promises we made to people in 2029 elections,” said Jagan.
Jagan said that his government has been giving highest monthly welfare pension to old and needy- Rs 3000 – compared to any other state in the country. AP is followed by Telangana with a monthly pension of Rs2,016, UP- Rs 1,000, Rajasthan – Rs 700 and Kerala – Rs 1,600. AP gives pensions to a total 66.34 lakh people, with an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, while other states’ outlay is less than half of it.
6.48 lakh jobs given in 5 years
CM Jagan said his government has created employment to around 6.48 lakh youth in the last five years, including 1.40 lakh jobs through village secretariat system and another 2.86 lakh volunteer jobs. He was dispelling the Opposition charge that he had neglected welfare and jobs during his present tenure. Besides, Jagan said, he has provided assistance to students who wanted to go abroad for higher studies etc.
In the coming years, Jagan promised to set up a skill university in Tirupati and announcing jobs recruitment calander every year for youth. A special scheme would be taken up in government schools to impart skills in AI and ChatGPT. For this engineering students would be hired to teach with a stipend of Rs 12,000 per month and credits. Sports talents would be encouraged through present schemes.
Jagan focused on his achievements in the last five years of key social infra sectors like education and health. He said AP schools are the best in the country, in terms of both quality of education and facilities. He promised to increase these facilities in the coming years too. In health sector, he promised to launch five more medical colleges and 17 nursing colleges in AP.
