Former Chief Minister and YSRCP President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has etched his name in history by successfully completing one of the largest pro-poor housing revolutions ever undertaken by any state government in independent India. Between 2019 and 2024, the YSRCP government distributed 31.7 lakh registered house-site pattas to landless poor families and constructed more than 25 lakh permanent pucca houses equipped with toilets, electricity, drinking water connections, and approach roads, all delivered completely free of cost to beneficiaries. Backed by an unprecedented investment of over ₹50,000 crore, this massive welfare drive under the flagship “Navaratnalu – Pedalandariki Illu” scheme transformed the lives of more than one crore people from the poorest sections of society, setting a national benchmark in transparent and corruption-free direct-benefit governance.
Unmatched Scale and Speed of YSRCP Housing Scheme
The YSRCP government acquired more than 72,000 acres of land valued at approximately ₹75,000 crore and developed over 17,000 new YSR Jagananna Colonies across all 26 districts of Andhra Pradesh. From the remote tribal habitations of Paderu and Araku Valley in the north to the drought-affected villages of Anantapur and Kurnool in Rayalaseema, and from the coastal fishing communities of Srikakulam and Prakasam to the backward hamlets of Uttarandhra, every corner of the state witnessed the construction of modern, dignified homes for the landless poor. Mass housewarming ceremonies saw lakhs of families receiving keys to their new permanent homes in a single day, a sight never before witnessed on such a scale in any Indian state.
Empowerment Through Women-Centric Ownership and Zero-Cost Delivery
In a revolutionary step towards women’s empowerment, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy ensured that every single one of the 31.7 lakh house pattas and the completed pucca houses were registered exclusively in the name of the woman of the household. This historic decision granted millions of mothers and wives legal property rights for the first time in their lives, creating generational wealth and financial security. Unlike previous regimes that merely distributed empty plots and left the poor to struggle with construction, Jagan’s government took full responsibility – each house costing ₹1.8–2.5 lakh was built entirely by the state using transparent tendering, geo-tagging, and direct bank transfers, ensuring not a single rupee reached middlemen or corrupt officials.
National Recognition and Transparent Implementation
Throughout the YSRCP tenure from 2019 to 2024, Andhra Pradesh consistently topped the Centre’s own rankings for housing delivery under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and state schemes. Independent audits, central teams, and international development agencies repeatedly praised the speed, transparency, and zero-corruption model adopted by the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration. The use of technology – from door-to-door beneficiary surveys to real-time monitoring of construction progress – eliminated leakage and ensured that every rupee meant for the poor reached its intended purpose.
A Permanent Legacy of Dignity and Inclusive Development
Today, more than 25 lakh completed pucca houses and 31.7 lakh registered house pattas stand as living monuments to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s unwavering commitment to the poorest of the poor. These are not just concrete structures – they are symbols of dignity restored, dreams fulfilled, and a promise kept without excuses or compromise. Even after the change in government in 2024, beneficiaries across Andhra Pradesh continue to express their eternal gratitude to the leader who turned “Pedalandariki Illu” from an electoral promise into a life-changing reality for over one crore citizens.