AP CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has been considered as the saviour of the what it is said to be an economically worst-hit state Andhra Pradesh as he was voted to power in 2019 assembly elections. His YCP followers repeatedly said the slogan ‘Maata Tappadu, Madama tippadu’.
During the Praja Sankalpa Yatra he had taken out three years ago, he made several promises to the AP people as a part of his flagship programme ‘Navaratnalu’ which is said to be the sacred Bible and gave a call to the party cadre and the village volunteers to strive for enforcing all that mentioned in it to the tee.
“Pensions Pempu” is one among those Navaratnalu and was the most lauded by the AP people as Jagan has promised increase the pension amount of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 phase-wise. He said that he would increase the Rs 1,000 in four phases, at Rs 250 each year. For its successful implementation, Jagan had appointed as the grassroot workers for the implementation of the government schemes.
After appointed as the AP CM in 2019, he increased it by Rs 250 for the year 2019-2020 in last July and a total amount of Rs 2,250 is being paid to the elderly, single women, widows, toddy tappers and other needful sections of the society back then.
But, in 2020-21, no pension amount was hiked and all the people are asking the volunteers the reasons behind not hiking the pension amount from Rs 2,250 to Rs 2,500 as promised. Every time, the beneficiaries are asking the volunteers about this and it would be better if the government can specify the reason for not hiking the amount at the earliest than keep them in a confusion.
Making a promise that he can’t keep is more damage for CM’s reputation than anything.