YSR Congress Party President and Leader of the Opposition Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy showered a slew of sops for more than 139 Backward Classes and sub-castes in Andhra Pradesh.
Addressing a huge gathering at the party’s BC Garjana in Eluru, he read out the ‘BC Declaration’ drafted by the party’s committee which was set up for the purpose. “If voted to power, YSR Congress Party will establish 139 welfare corporations for the sub-castes with unlimited access in category and every BC woman between 45 and 60 years would be given Rs75,000 under the YSR Cheyutha scheme.”
Jaganmohan Reddy added that he would allocate not less than Rs 15,000 crore per year for the welfare of the BCs in the Budget by bringing in the comprehensive sub-plan act. Additionally, he promised that every BC student would be eligible for free education with a financial assistance of Rs 20,000 assistance per year, for students in government hostels towards mess charges and other expenses. In addition, parents of all the school (government) students would be given Rs 15,000 per year for other expenses for the child’s education.
He announced 50% reservation of the nominated posts in the government corporations, organisations and temple boards for the BC, SC, ST and Minority candidates and a law would be made to implement it. Jagan added that 50% of the outsourced and contract works in the government would be given to the members of the communities. He also announced YSR Bima through which the families of farmers who die would be given Rs 7 lakh. “In this direction, we will bring out a Act which will make sure that the only belongs to the family,” he revealed.
Zero percentage interest loan of Rs 10,000 to recognised vendors and small business organisers, Rs 10,000 for Nayi Brahmin shops and basic salary for those working in temples, houses and jobs for nomadic communities, Rs 10,000 for fisherman during fishing ban and Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for their families in case of accidental death, Rs 2,000 per month for women running handloom mills were among the other promises the YSR Congress President made.
The BC Garjana, political observers say, was held by YSR Congress Party to dent Telugu Desam Party’s BC votebank, which is the Yellow Party’s strong support base. This is a strategy of the YSRCP to eat into TDP’s vote bank with such huge promises, ahead of the upcoming elections in the state.
