Jagan disburses 'Jagananna Thodu' amount, lauds small vendors' service

AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has disbursed Rs 395 crores to 3.95 lakh beneficiaries under the 'Jagananna Thodu' scheme, on Wednesday with an interest component of Rs 15.96 crore.

The scheme provided Rs 10,000 each to small and petty traders, vendors and artisans. Till date, the State provided Rs 2,011 crores to 15,03,558 families under the scheme to promote self employment.

The small and petty traders and vendors who sold their goods on the pavements, had tiny shops and those who pushed carts also generated employment and became a part of social empowerment.

The Chief Minister said that he had seen the plight of such petty traders, who were exploited by money lenders and middlemen.

"The State has been providing loans to over 5.08 lakh beneficiaries, other state governments in the country have been providing such benefit to 15.03 lakh families which show the scale and size of concern we have towards social and economic empowerment," he said adding that those who repay loans on time, the State has been waiving off the interest and Rs 48.48 crore has been reimbursed to 12.50 lakh families.

He also said that of the beneficiaries, 80 percent were women belonging to SC, ST, BC and Minorities which is a glaring example of social and economic empowerment.

Drawing a comparison with the previous government, the Chief Minister said such welfare was never thought of by the previous dispensation and it never thought of people who were engaged in small and petty trade selling coffee, tea, eateries, vegetables, fruits in various modes. They also did not focus on artisans and traditional craftsmen. The previous government and its friendly media had a feudal mindset looking after their own interest.

They only followed the principle of plunder, stash and ingest formula but our Government has embarked on the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Of the 15.03 lakh beneficiaries majority of them were also being benefited by other schemes being implemented by our Government.

"The budget remains the same then and now but the only difference is the change of Chief Minister. The schemes are reaching the poor now as there are no middlemen and it is being credited directly into the bank accounts shunting out the role of middlemen and corruption," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister B Mutyalanaidu, Municipal Administration Minister A Suresh and other officials and bank representatives were present.