YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has virtually created a “Jagan Army” with 2.55 lakh village and ward volunteers he had recruited five years ago to implement and promote his government’s welfare schemes, is all set to appease them ahead of the upcoming elections.
According to sources, Jagan is planning to give the party ticket to a representative of the village/ward volunteers for the assembly elections, as a goodwill gesture to convey the message that he has acknowledged their services for the party and the government.
It is not immediately known which assembly he would pick up the volunteer to contest from, but the task of identifying a suitable candidate from among the volunteers is understood to have been given to political strategy team of Indian Political Action Committee hired by the party.
This is going to be a master stroke by Jagan, as he strongly feels the volunteers will be the backbone of the party and help the party candidates at the booth-level.
Despite the Election Commission of India banned the usage of their services for electoral duties, they can do the duty for the party and brainwash the beneficiaries to vote for the party, besides money distribution.
Jagan already announced enhancement of cash awards being presented in three categories to village/ward volunteers for meritorious service – Seva Vajra, Seva Ratna and Seva Mitra.
Seva Ratna cash award has now been increased to Rs 45,000 from Rs 30,000, Seva Ratna to Rs 30,000 from Rs 20,000 and Seva Mitra to Rs 15,000 from Rs 10,000 respectively.
Jagan will formally launch the presentation of Seva Mitra, Seva Ratna and Seva Vajra awards to the best village/ward volunteers at a function in Phirangipuram of Guntur district on Thursday.
The programme will be held across the State for seven days. The government will distribute cash awards worth Rs 392.05 crore to 2,55,464 volunteers across the state.
In addition, 997 volunteers, who collected good quality testimonials from beneficiaries of YSR Pension Kanuka, Aasara and other welfare schemes, have been selected transparently by a committee headed by the District Collector, and will be awarded cash prizes worth Rs 1.61 crore.
Each volunteer will receive Rs 15,000 at mandal/town/municipal corporation level, Rs 20,000 at constituency level, and Rs 25,000 at district level respectively.
A total of 875 volunteers have been selected from 175 Assembly constituencies in the State for the Seva Vajra award, while top 10 in each municipal corporation will be presented Seva Ratna award. A total of 4,150 volunteers will be awarded Seva Ratna.
A total of 2,50,439 volunteers, who have worked for a year without any complaints or disputes across the State, are eligible for Seva Mitra award.