AP CM YS Jagan releases Rs 87.32 crore under YSR Kalyanamasthu, Shadi Tohfa

AMARAVATHI: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday released Rs 87.32 crore towards YSR Kalyanamasthu and YSR Shaadi Tohfa to benefit 12,132 eligible girls who got married during the quarter January-March 2023.

The amount would be directly credited into bank accounts of beneficiaries belonging to SC, ST, BC, Minorities, disabled, and construction workers.

Depositing the amount at the click of a button virtually at his camp office here on Friday, the Chief Minister said that the scheme was not only meant to financially support the girls but also making Class X mandatory for implementation of the scheme which would change mindset of the parents to educate their children. Implementation of Amma Vodi and Jagananna Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena would usher in a revolution in the education sector in the State drastically reducing the dropout rate in schools and increasing the enrolment.

The government believed that education was the only weapon to eradicate poverty from society. Out of the total 12,132 beneficiaries identified for YSR Kalyanamasthu and Shaadi Tohfa, as many as 5,929 beneficiaries were receiving Jagananna Vidya Deveena and Vasthi Deevenna schemes. In addition to the assistance provided now, within a span of six months, 16,668 eligible girls were benefited from the scheme and the government credited Rs 125.50 crore directly into their accounts, he said.

Drawing a contrast with the previous TDP regime, the Chief Minister said that the earlier government had implemented the scheme ahead of elections but the YSRCP Government was implementing it in full transparency with enhanced incentives. As many as 17,709 beneficiaries were left high and dry in 2018 as the TDP failed to credit Rs 70 crore. While SC, ST, BC, and Minority beneficiaries got Rs 40,000, Rs 50,000, Rs 35,000, and Rs 50,000 each during the TDP rule, the YSRCP Government hiked it to Rs 1,00,000, Rs 1,00,000 Rs 50,000, and Rs 1,00,000 respectively.

While the differently abled people and construction workers received Rs 1,00,000 and Rs 20,000 each respectively in the TDP rule, they would now get the hiked benefit of Rs 1,50,000 and Rs. 40,000 respectively. Similarly, the incentives of SC, ST, and BC beneficiaries who opted for inter-caste marriage went up to Rs 1,20,000 from Rs 75,000 each, to Rs 1, 20,000 from Rs 75,000 each, and to Rs 75,000 from Rs 50,000 each respectively.

Later, the Chief Minister also virtually interacted with some of the beneficiaries.

Social Welfare Minister M Nagarjuna, Women and Child Welfare Minister KV Usha Sricharan, Labour Minister G Jayaram, Special CS (BC Welfare) G Anantha Ramu, Special CS (Village and Ward Secretraits) Ajay Jain, Minority Welfare Secretary A Md Imtiaz, Social Welfare Director P Vijaya Krishnan, Ward Secretariats Director Lakshmisha and other higher officials were also present.