VIJAYAWADA: Calling volunteers the brand ambassadors of Welfare, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Friday that the opposition Telugu Desam was feeling jealous of the impact of his government’s welfare schemes.
“Chandrababu and his fans in the media have become so jealous of our welfare programmes that their heart-burn has gone beyond pathological proportions. I urge the volunteers to be cautious against the evil designs of the Telugu Desam chief. He is threatening to restore the corrupt Janmabhoomi Committee system if his party is returned to power,” the Chief Minister said.
Jagan Mohan Reddy formally inaugurated the presentation of Seva Mitra, Seva Ratna and Seva Vajra awards to select village and ward secretariat volunteers during the Volunteers Ki Vandanam programme here.
He said the government would distribute Rs 243. 34 crore as cash awards to 2,33,719 volunteers as a token of appreciation of their yeoman service in extending the benefits of welfare programmes to the people at their doorsteps.
The felicitation programme will continue for 10 days across the state in a festive atmosphere.
Describing the volunteer system as the backbone of his government’s welfare programmes, the Chief Minister said the entire country has been observing the functioning of the system here with both “inspiration and surprise.”
He called the 2,66,000-member volunteer force the Jagan Army carrying out the welfare schemes with transparency. “You are just like the Tulasi plant in the backyard,” he said in an obvious pat on the volunteers’ back.
The volunteers are extending the benefits of nearly 25 welfare programmes to lakhs of eligible beneficiaries.
The CM said, “As my brand ambassadors, you are extending the benefits of welfare programmes at people’s doorstep fearlessly and passionately without considerations of caste, creed and political affiliations of the beneficiaries. Volunteers also have a responsibility to thwart the vicious and malicious propaganda unleashed by the jealous TD and its friendly media against the government.”
Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “Being synonymous with Navaratnalu philosophy, the volunteers have to build bridges between the government and the people, carrying the message of the government and the good done to them.”
The government has so far spent Rs 2,10,000 crore through DBT and Rs 90,000 crore through non-DBT schemes for the welfare of the people. “The volunteers are bringing smiles on the faces of 64 lakh pensioners by handing over the pension at the dawn of pension day.”
Under the programme implemented for the third consecutive year, a certificate, shawl and badge along with a cash prize of 1,10,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000 are presented to the Seva Mitra, Seva Ratna and Seva Vajra volunteers while medals are also given to the best volunteers of the last two categories.
While 2,28,624 volunteers are selected for the Seva Mitra awards, Seva Ratna and Seva Vajra awards would be presented to 4,220 and 875 volunteers respectively.
Special CS (village & ward Secretariats) Ajay Jain, NTR district collector Dilli Rao, deputy chief minister (PR & RD) Muthyala Naidu and MA & UD minister A. Suresh also addressed the volunteers.
