CM Jagan presents cash awards to best village, ward volunteers in AP

Guntur: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy presented the Seva Mitra, Seva Ratna and Seva Vajra awards to the best village and ward secretariat volunteers.

Addressing the gathering here on Thursday, the chief minister saluted them saying they are his ‘young army’ that has been extending selfless service with unflinching commitment and delivering welfare benefits of various schemes transparently to the beneficiaries since 2019.

“While the corrupt Janma Bhoomi Committees during the TDP rule exploited people seeking bribes for releasing monthly social pensions and benefits of other welfare schemes besides working with nepotism and bias, you are extending selfless service to the poor as my brand ambassadors and future leaders though working for meagre sum,” he said.

Jagan asks volunteers to fight TDP propaganda

“The State Government has so far distributed funds worth Rs 2,55,000 crores through DBT welfare schemes and Rs 1,07,000 crores (Rs 1,76,000 crores including the house site pattas) through non-DBT schemes in the last 58 months despite Covid-19 blues and reduced revenues from the Centre,” he said.

CM Jagan asked the volunteers to become his star campaigners and spread the good word about the party among people for bringing victory while thwarting the vicious and malicious propaganda of the jealous TDP and its friendly media.

In response to the MLA Sucharita’s appeal, the chief minister sanctioned Rs 39 crores for constructing a ghat road to the Carmel Matha shrine on Phirangipuram Hill. He also said that as per her request, the special monthly pension for the 17,000 families affected in the capital region would be enhanced from Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 from next month onwards.

Cash awards for welfare scheme volunteers

The State Government will award Rs 392.05 crores in cash to 2,55,464 volunteers as a token of appreciation for rendering yeoman service in extending the benefits of various welfare programmes to the people at their doorstep.

The felicitation programme will continue for seven days across the State in a festive atmosphere. Under the programme implemented for the fourth consecutive year, a certificate, shawl and badge along with a cash prize of Rs 15,000, Rs 30,000 and Rs 45,000 were presented to the Seva Mitra, Seva Ratna and Seva Vajra volunteers while medals were given to the best volunteers of the last two categories.

While 2,50,439 volunteers are selected for the Seva Mitra awards, Seva Ratna and Seva Vajra awards would be presented to 4,150 and 875 volunteers respectively.

Apart from felicitating the meritorious volunteers, the State Government will also award special cash prizes of Rs 15,000, Rs 20,000 and Rs 25,000 each at mandal (or municipality or corporation), constituency and district level respectively to 997 volunteers who have displayed extraordinary talents in collecting the opinion of beneficiaries of the YSR Pension Kanuka, Aasara and others welfare schemes.