Amaravati: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said that 90% promises fulfilled in first year itself

Amaravati: Affirming that the rural landscape of Andhra Pradesh is poised for a metamorphosis ushering in a welfare state, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has said the setting up of village secretariats has given him immense satisfaction and during the first year in office 90% of the promises made in the manifesto were fulfilled and no government had ever given a calendar for implementing welfare schemes and adhered to it strictly.

Just visualize a village with 2,000 population having a Village Secretariat, which serves as a delivery system of the government schemes, and surrounding it would be an English Medium School with all the basic amenities, Rythu Bharosa Kendra, catering to all the needs of farmers from providing quality seeds to marketing, YSR Janata Bazars where all agriculture produce would be available, and YSR Clinic with 24/7 service,' Jagan said, while speaking at the inaugurating the brainstorming with the theme 'Our Governance and Your Suggestions' held here on Monday.

"The institution of Village Secretariats has stemmed from the interaction I had with people during my 14 month 3,648-km padayatra where various sections of people have poured in their woes to me and made me think that unless a system that is transparent, functioning with saturation mode and is corruption-free, the poorer sections cannot be benefited.

"Within four months of assuming office, we could provide 4 lakh jobs in village and ward secretariats and no government has ever provided so many jobs in such a small span of time. It was a matter of pride that over 82 % per cent of jobs were secured by SC, STs, BCs and Minorities.

"The system has been so effective that in the times of Corona, three rounds of household survey was held and the pension, ration, rice and dal were provided by the social delivery system of village and ward volunteers," he said.

"Judicial Preview and Reverse Tendering are among the reforms we have taken up to bring in transparent and corrupt-free governance. The state has so far benefited Rs 2,082 crore towards reverse tendering," he said.

The State had spent Rs 50 crore benefiting 3.57 crore people towards welfare so far and this was the only government which had given a calendar for welfare schemes and had adhered to it, the Chief Minister added.

Giving due importance to transparency, every Village Secretariat would display the list of beneficiaries giving an opportunity to those who missed out to apply and it was done purely on saturation basis without looking into caste, creed or political affiliation even. This was the social audit and transparency rolled in one, he said.

"During my padayatra, I had seen that there were belt shops and permit rooms besides every wine shop and the previous government has tried to sell liquor by more outlets for revenue sake, unmindful of the fact that it was the sole reason for domestic disturbances. Our government has closed down 43,000 belt shops and has taken over the liquor trade from private parties to regularize it. The cost of liquor was steeply increased, number of shops was drastically reduced and working hours were cut down and now we are getting the desired effect," he said.

"Immediately after assuming office, we have started rolling the welfare scheme starting YSR Pension Kanuka paying Rs 2,250 and the number of pensioners was increased as compared to the previous government and in Rythu Bharosa we have paid RS 13,500 and extended it to five years though we have promised only Rs 12,500 and for four years in the manifesto. Under Amma Vodi, Rs 15,000 was credited to the bank accounts of 43 lakh mothers for sending their children to schools. Till now Rs 4,000 crore were given towards fees reimbursement and this must be the first time that there are no dues on this count. Nearly 81,000 weavers were each given Rs 24,000 towards incentive. On July 8, about 28 lakh people will be given house sites on the occasion of YSR Jayanti.

"We will be sending a copy of our manifesto to the people of the State to vouch for the promises we have fulfilled soon," Jagan said.