Jagan Reddy led YSR Congress manifesto: This is what new chief minister has promised to implement

While addressing the media after meeting prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, Andhra Pradesh chief minister designate YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that revolutionary changes would be brought in governance to “cleanse” the system of large scale corruption and irregularities that marked the five-year rule of outgoing TDP government in the state. Reddy claimed that his government would make “transparency” in the governance a top priority. "White papers will be released on every department after the initial round of reviews to ensure that people know where we stand and what will be done," he informed.

In the upcoming six months to one year, he said people would start witnessing revolutionary changes in the governance to keep corruption at bay. These include reverse tendering among others to ensure that the health of State exchequer would remain intact, he added. As Reddy gears to take oath and come to power, here is a look at what he and the YSR Congress had promised in its manifesto -

Agriculture - In its manifesto, the party had promised ‘Rythu Bharosa’, an investment support of Rs 12,500 per annum, along with free crop insurance and interest-free loans. It said that the land-owning farmers can avail sops close to Rs 1 lakh per annum, tenant farmers would get only Rs 12,500 each year as financial assistance.

Financial assistance - The party promised to introduce women-centric schemes. Besides Rs 15,000 per annum under ‘Amma Vodi’ to enable women to send their children to schools, the YSRCP also promised Rs 50,000 per annum for women under the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) programme under the ‘YSR Aasara’ scheme. It said that a financial assistance of Rs 75,000 for BC, SC, ST and minority women (over the age of 45) would be provided under the ‘YSR Cheyutha’ scheme.

Unemployment - The manifesto said that the new government will provide jobs to 10 youth in every village at the village secretariat. "In addition to that, around 3.5 lakh village and ward volunteers will receive Rs 5,000 per month as honorarium. The government will fill the 2.3 lakh government jobs that are presently vacant. For students, the government will provide complete fee reimbursement and an additional sum of Rs 20,000 per annum for food and accommodation expenses," the party had said. 

It also promised to increase the the pensions to Rs 3,000 per month. "For the welfare of the BC community, a separate BC fund will be created, with a budget of Rs 75,000 crore (over a period of 5 years). A similar welfare fund will be created for the Kapu community as well," it had added.

Prohibition - One of the most important promises made by the party was to work on closing down belt shops that sold illicit liquor, and also move ahead with prohibition of alcohol in three phases. It claimed that by 2024, alcohol would only be available in posh restaurants and 5-star hotels.

Healthcare - The party had also announced ‘Universal Health Cards’ that would allow free healthcare access to poor and middleclass families in the state. These cards can be availed by an individual with an annual income of up to Rs 5,00,000 per annum.