VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has proposed to award volunteers of the state government under three categories – Seva Vajra, Seva Ratna and Seva Mitra – which would include cash rewards and special badges. The awards will be presented on occasion of Ugadi.
The CM was presiding over a review meeting on YSR Aasara, Cheyutha, Jagananna Thodu, employment guarantee scheme and volunteer system at his camp office in Tadepalli on Friday. The volunteers will be selected under three categories.
Those who have served continuously for one year will be considered in Level 1. Five people from every mandal or town will be considered in Level 2 and five volunteers from every constituency will be considered for being felicitated under Level 3. The cash award for Seva Mitra will be Rs 10,000, Rs 20,000 for Seva Ratna and Rs 30,000 Seva Vajra.
Reviewing implementation of livelihood programmes opted by women beneficiaries under YSR Cheyutha and Aasara schemes, the Chief Minister said bankers and officials should work in tandem to support beneficiaries.
Officials informed him that 66,702 retail outlets had been proposed under Cheyutha and Aasara schemes, 98 per cent of which have been established. Another 16.25 lakh people have opted for small businesses in textiles, handicrafts, food products, jewellery and chemicals. They will be provided employment opportunities in these fields in partnership with reputed companies.
Reviewing Jagananna Jeevakranti, officials said goats and sheep will be distributed to another 70,719 people by December 2021.
On Jagananna Palavelluva, additional 1,06,376 units of goats and sheep will also be delivered by December 2021. The Chief Minister directed bankers to ensure immediate disbursement of loans for pending applications under Jagananna Thodu. The bankers said Andhra Pradesh is far ahead compared to other states in implementation of these schemes.
With regard to MGNREGA, officials said the state government has logged 2,328 lakh working days in 2020–21, which is the highest since the programme started. Panchayat raj minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, panchayat raj principal secretary Gopala Krishna Dwivedi, animal husbandry special chief secretary Poonam Malakondaiah, village and ward secretariats principal secretary Ajay Jain, labour principal secretary Udayalakshmi, panchayat raj commissioner Girija Shankar, finance secretary Gulzar, and other senior officials were present at the meeting.
Meanwhile, Jagan Mohan Reddy has congratulated Velcheru Narayana Rao for winning the Central Sahitya Akademy Award for his contributions to the literary field. The CM pointed out that Narayana Rao has to his credit, translations of various books and research works.
In a separate programme, endowment minister Vellampalli Srinivasa Rao and Srisailam temple executive officer K. S. Rama Rao called the Chief Minister and invited him for Mahashivaratri Brahmotsavams at Srisailam from March 4 to 14.
On the occasion, Jagan Mohan Reddy released the book Srisailakhandam, which depicts the times and glory of the Srisailam temple.
Vice Admiral Atul Kumar Jain, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC), along with his wife Devina Jain, too called on the Chief Minister at his camp office here on Friday.
