Why 20 lakh students excluded from Thalliki Vandanam, asks APCC chief Sharmila
APCC president Y.S. Sharmila has criticized the Andhra Pradesh government for excluding nearly 20 lakh students from the 'Thalliki Vandanam' welfare scheme. She alleges that the government is imposing restrictive eligibility criteria and making unauthorized deductions from the promised financial assistance.
Why it matters
This highlights ongoing political tensions regarding the implementation of social welfare programs and the transparency of government beneficiary data.
APCC president Y.S. Sharmila on Friday criticised the State government’s implementation of the Thalliki Vandanam scheme, alleging that it mirrors the shortcomings of the previous YSRCP government’s Amma Vodi programme.
“While the ruling alliance promised ₹15,000 per child, the scheme currently covers only about 67 lakh students despite the government previously claiming there are around 83 lakh students in the State,” she posted on X, and questioned why nearly 20 lakh children had been excluded and why deductions were being made from the promised amount under the guise of school development.
Ms. Sharmila also accused the government of imposing eligibility restrictions based on factors such as electricity consumption, land ownership and vehicle ownership, the criteria that she said were previously criticised by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu when he was in the Opposition.
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