Volunteer system non-functionalsince September last: Minister

The Minister for Social Welfare, Disabled & Senior Citizen Welfare, and Sachivalayam & Volunteers, Dola Sri Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy, has announced that the gram/ward volunteer system in Andhra Pradesh has been non-functional since September of last year, due to the previous YSRCP government’s failure to issue renewal orders. He added that his government intends to continue the system, however, due to the non-issuing of the G.O. by the previous YSRCP government in September, the system’s continuation is no longer feasible.
During the Question Hour in the AP Legislative Council, YSRCP member P Rama Subba Reddy, Dr M Aruna Kumar and others asked whether the government will continue the gram/ward volunteer system or not. In reply, Minister Swamy stated that at present no gram/ward volunteers are working in the State. During the previous YSRCP government, the volunteer system ceased to exist in August 2023. Since the inception of the system, the previous government had appointed 2.66 lakh volunteers and paid Rs.5,000 per month as honorarium, he said.
Further, he said every year the government made renewals to the appointment of volunteers by issuing G.Os. and it has continued until August 2023. As per the orders issued on September 22, 2022, the renewal was in force up to August last year, however, the government failed to issue a G.O. of renewal in September 2023, he said. Despite this, the government paid their honorarium until May this year without the existence of the system though some of them tendered their resignations before the elections. It was also one of the reasons for an unmanaged financial system, he said.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Botsa Satyanarayana and other members demanded that the volunteer system be continued in the State and that they should be paid Rs.10,000 as per the election promise given by the NDA. If the government does not continue the system, it is none other than cheating, they alleged. Botsa asked the government to issue a G.O. to continue the system.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar came down heavily on the previous YSRCP government for failing to maintain the Power sector. As a result of the actions of the previous government such as suspending PPAs, true-up charges to the tune of Rs.20,000 crore are being imposed on the people. They enhanced electricity charges nine times and it was too hard for the public, he alleged.
He clarified that due to the proposals sent to the APERC by the previous government, his government will collect the true-up charges from consumers. Also, he assured the people that the government will take the necessary steps not to enhance power charges in future, he added.
On the other hand, Municipal Minister P Narayana said that the previous government borrowed an amount of Rs.5,546.48 crore towards APTIDCO houses during 2019-24. Also, it failed to complete the TIDCO houses and distribute them to the beneficiaries. Out of a total of 2.61 lakh houses, the previous government did not construct 94,598 houses though it collected beneficiaries’ share through bank loans of Rs.2,275.24 crore, he alleged.
Meanwhile, Minister for Human Resources and IT Nara Lokesh answered a question on two complaints received against the Regional Joint Director (RJD), Kadapa. He said that a preliminary report had been received and assured that the government will complete the probe and take action against him within 45 days.