Amaravati's Pension Doubling Sparks Pre-Election Stir

Approximately 17,000 landless individuals in Amaravati now stand to benefit from an increased monthly pension, recently doubled from ₹2,500 to ₹5,000 by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. This move, fulfilling a pre-2019 election promise, has stirred both applause and criticism, particularly regarding its timing ahead of impending elections.

The decision, amplifying the pension scheme, particularly impacts residents of Tadikonda and Mangalagiri Assembly constituencies, where political stakes run high. Guntur District Collector M. Venugopal Reddy confirmed the disbursal of the increased pension, raising monthly expenses to ₹8.50 crore and annual expenses to over ₹102 crore.

The background of the pension scheme stems from the contentious Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) initiated by former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, aimed at acquiring agricultural lands for Amaravati's development. The recent escalation of pensions follows a request by Prathipadu MLA Mekathoti Sucharitha, aligning with past electoral promises and political maneuvers.

Critics like Amaravati JAC convener Puvvada Sudhakara Rao question the timing, highlighting a gradual reduction in beneficiaries under the YSRCP government. Despite fulfilling promises, political motivations cast a shadow over the timely implementation, setting the stage for heated debates amidst election fervor.