Andhra CM disburses Rs 395 cr for welfare scheme for small traders, vendors

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], August 4 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy credited Rs 395 crores to 3.95 lakh beneficiaries under Jagananna Thodu scheme here on Wednesday besides an interest component of Rs 15.96 crore.
According to Chief Minister's Office (CMO), the scheme provides Rs 10,000 each to small traders, vendors and artisans and so far the state government has provided Rs 2,011 crores to 15,03,558 families under the scheme to promote self-employment.
Reddy said The small traders and vendors who sell their goods and ware on the pavements, tiny shops and push carts generate employment and become part of social empowerment.
The Chief Minister said that he had seen the plight of such petty traders, who were exploited by money lenders and middlemen besides artisans and the Jagananna Thodu scheme had thus evolved and we have kept our promise by paying Rs 10,000 each.
For those who repay loans on time, the state has been taking the interest burden and Rs 48.48 crore has been reimbursed to 12.50 lakh families. As part of this, Rs 15.96 crores is being reimbursed now. The list has 3.95 lakh new beneficiaries to whom an amount of 395 crore loans are being given, he said.
Of the beneficiaries, 80 per cent are women and belong to SC, ST, BC and Minorities which is a glaring example of the social and economic empowerment, he said.
Drawing a comparison with the previous government, Chief Minster said, such welfare was never thought of by the previous dispensation and it never thought of people who were engaged in small and petty trade selling coffee, tea, eateries, vegetables, fruits in various modes. They also did not focus on artisans and traditional craftsmen.
"They only followed the principle of plunder, stash and ingest formula but our Government has embarked on the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Of the 15.03 lakh beneficiaries majority of them are also being benefited by other schemes being implemented by our Government. The budget remains the same then and now the only difference is change of Chief Minister. Why schemes are reaching the poor now means, there are no middle and it is being credited directly into the bank accounts shunting out the role of middlemen and corruption," he added. (ANI)