Hyderabad: If almost all the schemes implemented by the previous Telugu Desam Party government were named after NTR, the new ones launched by YSRCP government carry YSRs name. YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is not only conducting an inquiry into projects launched by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government but is also renaming various welfare schemes.
The schemes implemented during TDP rule were named after NTR, as the TDP founder and former chief minister N.T. Rama Rao was popularly known. The schemes launched by Jagan Mohan Reddy are named after YSR, as his father and former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was popular among people.
At the very first cabinet meeting in June, ‘NTR Vaidya Seva’, a free healthcare scheme for poor, was changed to ‘YSR Arogyasri’. Interestingly, YSR as the Congress chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh had launched Arogyasri scheme as ‘Rajiv Arogyasri’ named after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. YSR, who was the chief minister between 2004 and 2009, named many of his welfare schemes after former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
YSRCP government renamed social security pension scheme ‘NTR Bharosa’ as ‘YSR Pension Kanuka’. ‘Navaratnalu’ (nine gems), the major promises made by Jagan Reddy during the poll campaign, are named after his late father. Rythu Bandhu, for instance, is named after YSR. Under this scheme, Rs12,500 will be paid to every farmer annually towards input cost. The scheme during TDP rule with lesser financial support was called ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’. ‘Badi Pilustondi’ of the previous government for children’s enrollment in schools has been rechristened as ‘Rajanna Badi Bata’. Rajanna was also popular name of YSR.
Anna Canteens shut
The schemes scrapped by the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh include Anna Canteens that served a meal for Rs 5 and catered to a large poor and the middle-class section. Perhaps this is the only scheme among all scrapped decisions which had a direct impact on people.
All 204 canteens were shut down by the government on August 1, citing irregularities in the scheme launched by previous TDP government. Working since July-August last year, the canteens were proving a boon to the poor as they were getting breakfast, lunch and dinner at Rs 5 each. For hundreds of daily wage labourers, beggars, other poor and middle-class customers, three square meals a day was costing them just Rs 15. The same would have otherwise cost them around Rs 150. Every canteen is catering to 1,000-1,200 people for each session and thus all canteens are providing over six lakh meals every day.
YSRCP leaders alleged that TDP used the scheme launched on the eve of elections to further its political interests by painting the canteens yellow (colour of TDP’s flag). TDP has slammed the government for winding up the scheme out of sheer political vendetta.
It is now said that the YSRCP government plans to re-open Anna canteens with a new name. The canteens were named in memory of NTR was also affectionately called ‘Anna’ (elder brother) and the new government is reportedly planning to re-launch the canteens as ‘Rajanna canteens’.
By Mohommed Shafeeq
