Vahana Mitra to benefit 24,512 drivers in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Minister of Tourism and Youth Advancement Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao on Friday said that Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was trying his level best to uplift unemployed youth and the under privileged sections considering their poor financial condition.

Launching the 'YSR Vahana Mitra' programme at Gurajada Kalakshetram here on Friday, the minister said the State government has received 1.75 lakh applications from the unemployed youth under the scheme and cleared over 1,73,531 beneficiaries' names.

Of them, a total of 24,512 beneficiaries were selected from Visakhapatnam district, he said and added financial assistance of Rs 10,000 would be handed over to every auto, taxi and cab drivers under the scheme.

He said auto was the only means of transport accessible to everyone. Realising the difficulties faced by the auto drivers, he said the Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has introduced the YSR Vahana Mitra scheme, which will provide financial assistance to auto and cab drivers. Stating the scheme would benefit 73,531 people in the state, he pointed out 24,512 people in the district would be provided financial support under the scheme.

VMRDA Chairman Dronamraju Srinivasa Rao mentioned that financial assistance to auto and cab drivers would guarantee their self-esteem and future. He called upon auto drivers to strictly follow police and traffic regulations.

District Collector V Vinay Chand hoped the scheme would benefit large number of unemployed youth to stand on their feet. Deputy Transport Commissioner G C Rajaratnam, GVMC Commissioner G Srijana, MLAs K Bhagyalakshmi, A Adeep Raj, Thippala Nagira Reddy and other transport officials were present. The auto drivers honoured minister M Srinivasa Rao with a garland and later the minister drove an auto along with an auto driver.