Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu referring to tall claims of button pressing during the previous YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime, said that the entire amount spent on button pressing was equal to the amount being spent on pensions by his government. He personally went to the homes of the beneficiaries who participated in the NTR Bharosa pension distribution program in Kotha Gollapalem, Chinaganjam mandal, Bapatla district and distributed pensions.
He asked about their problems. Speaking at a meeting later, he recalled that after returning power the first program he had taken was distribution of pensions. He asserted that for his government the welfare of the people is the first priority and he is working at the field level with the intention of leading from the front. He called on everyone to work for a society free of poverty.
Chandrababu explained that he had said in the past that he would take the responsibility of rebuilding the state and that he was moving forward according to that promise. He said that the increased pensions have been implemented since April last year and that Rs. 6,000 pensions are being given for the disabled. He said that pensions are being provided to 64 lakh people for one and a half crore families, and some are getting more income than they earn.
He clarified that Rs. 33,100 crore is being spent annually for the distribution of pensions. He recalled that though Telangana is the richest state, the amount they are spending pensions is less than that of AP. CM Chandrababu revealed that Rs. 2,722 crore is being spent per month across the state in the form of pensions.
He said that earlier, if you did not take a month’s pension, you would not get that money, but now if you do not take a month, you have been given the opportunity to take it in 2 or 3 months. There are 93,300 people who have not taken pensions for two months.
He said that if you want to save that money, the government will have a surplus of Rs. 76 crore per month, but he is giving an additional Rs. 76 crore with the intention of supporting the poor. He said that his goal is to see zero poverty in AP by 2029. He revealed that he inherited a debt of Rs. 10 lakh crore, but he would make welfare and development equal.
