Come October, the Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to unveil a festive atmosphere in the villages and mandals across the State and lining up goodies for Below Poverty Line families.
The government has taken an in-principle decision to gift clothes and essential commodities to BPL families for the ensuing Dasara and Deepavali festivals. “Details of what items to be given and at what cost are being worked out,” said Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu here on Thursday. It would be discussed in the next Cabinet meeting.
With the government disbursing enhanced pensions for the old aged, widows, handicapped and other categories from October 2 and also first phase of the NTR Sujala Sravanthi scheme for supplying 20 litres of mineral water for Rs.2 and the NTR Arogya Seva scheme for enhanced health insurance up to Rs.2.5 lakh, it wanted medical camps to be held through out the month to identify beneficiaries in need of medical treatment, he said.
The occasion would also be used to promote the five campaigns -- toilets to all households , Polam Pilustondi, Badi Pilustondi, Neeru–Chettu and fight against poverty-- to create public awareness in a campaign mode, he said. The coming month would see a beehive of activity coinciding with the festive mood, he added.
Bogus beneficiariesSpeaking to media persons here on Thursday, Mr. Kishore Babu said that utmost care was being taken to identify eligible beneficiaries for distribution of enhanced pensions through appointment of village, mandal and district-level committees. They wouldill be headed by sarpanch, mandal president and district in-charge Minister along with local body representatives, social workers, government officers. Already 7 per cent of existing beneficiaries had been identified as bogus due to linkage with the Aadhaar number.
In the past several undeserving persons had been availing pensions and other benefits and in some cases, people were drawing multiple pensions.
The government was also organising training for the committees on identifying genuine beneficiaries in a transparent manner and they were directed to submit the list before October 2.
Listing the achievements of the government so far in the 100-day rule, including progress on the loan waiver scheme, Mr. Kishore Babu said for SC, ST entrepreneurs, government was floating a venture capital with Rs.100 crore. It would enable beneficiaries avail bank loans without security as the venture capital would serve as guarantee to the banks. A target was set to help 1.25 lakh SC, ST beneficiaries to turn entrepreneurs.
