Chittoor district had come alive earlier this month with the announcement of the second phase of sops under the Pasupu Kumkuma programme.
Under the scheme, an amount of ₹10,000 would be given to each member of the DWCRA groups across the State. In Chittoor district, a total of 7,69,850 women, part of 79,602 self-help groups, will be eligible for the scheme. The amount would be given to the beneficiary in three instalments.
Controversial scheme
A pet project of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Pasupu Kumkuma scheme was decried by opposition parties as a highly populist scheme intended solely to woo voters ahead of the forthcoming elections.
In a big solace for the ruling party, the first instalment was successfully distributed in the district — an amount of ₹769.85 crore. What is noteworthy is that the DWCRA members constitute over 50% of the women voters in the district.
TDP leaders in the district hit upon the idea of turning the disbursal of cheques for Pasupu Kumkuma and social pension into a social event, and organised community luncheons where they propagated the welfare schemes of the ruling party. The TDP’s theme song ‘Kadalirandi Telugudesa Karyakarthalara’ was played across the district at these events, adding grist to the Opposition’s argument that a government event was being milked by the TDP for political purposes.
Project Director (DRDA) Raviprakash Reddy said that the distribution of the cheques in the first instalment was completed without any hassles. “We managed to implement the government’s decision with speed and efficiency, bringing cheer to all the groups,” Mr. Reddy said.
Joy shortlived?
However, the euphoria over the second phase of the Pasupu Kumkuma scheme is petering out in most places as doubts arise in voters’ minds as to the fate of the scheme if the TDP were to be unseated in the elections.
“What about the other two instalments? If the government changes, will they be distributed at all?” is the question going around in most DWCRA members’ minds, while some question the timing of the roll-out.
“We were not being given any importance since 2016 when we tried to get fresh loans. This Pasupu Kumkuma programme at the fag end of the election year is nothing but a gimmick,” said Aruna, an SHG member at Pakala mandal.
Another woman named Sujatha (35), at Piler, said that proving loans or gifts to DWCRA groups should be based on scientific thinking and that financial support should be constant instead of a one-time payout. “The sudden announcements of gifts and their hurried distribution might generate a little political goodwill and criticism as well, but such decisions would not help the purpose of the self-help groups,” Sujatha maintained.
Problem areas
Meanwhile, the Pasupu Kumkuma scheme has reportedly led to internal bickering among the group members. The general complaint is that the amount gets withdrawn by a couple of functionaries in the group, and that distribution of cash to other members is getting held up. Some women allege that their names were deleted from the group to accommodate fresh faces.
However, officials were prompt to dismiss such remarks.
Not to be seen as losing out in the race to dole out sops, the YSR Congress has reportedly jumped into the fray, announcing gifts ranging from mobile phones to wall clocks and silk sarees in an attempt to win over influential members of the DWCRA groups.
The YSR Congress cadres are meanwhile attacking the government for reportedly denying low-interest loans to DWCRA members.