Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy distributed financial assistance of Rs 658.60 crore to the EBCs (Economically Backward Classes) under the second tranche of the YSR EBC Nestham scheme in Markapuram in Prakasam district on Wednesday.


CM Jagan extended the financial assistance to 4.39 lakh women and the amount was directly credited into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. The total financial assistance provided so far under the scheme is Rs. 1,257.04 crore.


As a part of the scheme, women belonging to the Economically Backward Classes (EBC) -- Reddys, Kammas, Arya Vaishyas, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Velamas, and other communities -- in the age group of 45 to 60 are eligible.


The government is providing financial assistance of Rs 15,000 per annum to each beneficiary for three years. They will get financial assistance of Rs 45,000 in three tranches for taking up viable economic activities and improving their livelihood.


Addressing the gathering, CM YS Jagan said his administration had implemented several welfare programmes to support the empowerment of women in the state. He said house sites worth Rs 22,000 crore have been registered in the names of three million women. 


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The CM said the YSRCP government was implementing the programme even though it was not part of the election manifesto, noting that such a scheme was not found anywhere else in the nation.


As much as Rs 1,258 crore was credited to women’s accounts through the scheme in the past two years because his government was women-friendly, he stated.


"We have transferred Rs. 2.07 crore through DBT to beneficiaries in 46 months. Several schemes were introduced for women’s empowerment, and we gave 30 lakh house-site pattas to women. These EBC Nestham and Kapu Nestham are not pre-poll promises. Each house is worth Rs 10 lakh and we are providing timely assistance to every woman," he said.


(With inputs from ABP Desam — It is a Telugu platform of ABP News. For more news, commentary and latest happenings from two Telugu states, follow https://telugu.abplive.com//amp)