Jagan releases Rs. 589 cr under EBC Nestham, scheme to benefit 3L women

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy released Rs. 589 crore under the EBC Nestham scheme that will benefit over 3,92,647 women of OC communities.

Under the scheme, the state government will provide Rs. 45,000 to women from OC communities between the ages of 45-60 in three tranches (Rs. 15,000 per annum for three years).

YSR EBC (Economically Backward Classes) Nestham aims to improve the livelihood and financial situation of even the poorest women from the EBC category. The Chief Minister said the scheme was not an election promise nor was it in the manifesto. It was introduced with the intention to uplift women from the upper castes.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, "We wholeheartedly pay tribute to our Constitution maker Dr. B.R Ambedkar. During the two-and-a-half years of our administration, we have taken steps to maintain the spirit of the Constitution at every step. Even the upper castes include poor people. We are running this programme for their benefit. Today we are depositing Rs. 589 crore directly into the accounts of over 3.93 lakh women. The scheme will benefit 45-60-year-old women from Reddy, Kamma, Aryavaishya, Kshatriya, Velama, Brahmin, and other OC communities."

The Chief Minister added, "Women empowerment is also of great political importance. After our government came to power, Zakia Khan became the first woman vice-chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council, Pamula Puppasrivani is the deputy Chief Minister, Mekathoti Sucharita is our Home minister, and we have appointed Neelam Sahni as the first woman chief secretary of the state. Also, over 51% of nominated posts have been given to women. As a person who strongly believes that if a woman is happy, healthy, and content the community around her will flourish, we are taking steps forward."