YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Navaratnalu program, implemented during his tenure as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2019 to 2024, has emerged as a benchmark for social justice, extending direct benefits to over 1.38 crore individuals across the state through a framework of nine welfare schemes that target farmers, women, students, the elderly, and landless families, addressing longstanding disparities with a governance model emphasizing transparency, accessibility, and empowerment for the most vulnerable sections of society.
Direct Benefits and Agricultural Resilience
Navaratnalu fortified agricultural sustainability with YSR Rythu Bharosa, which provided annual financial assistance to small and marginal farmers, including tenants and landless cultivators, complemented by free crop insurance and swift calamity relief to protect against natural disasters, ensuring that economic vulnerabilities did not escalate into crises for rural households. This scheme alone reached millions, stabilizing incomes and reducing reliance on informal credit, while YSR Aarogyasri expanded cashless healthcare coverage for low-income families, treating over 2,000 conditions and preventing financial ruin from medical emergencies, thereby safeguarding the health and economic security of underprivileged communities.
Education and Women’s Empowerment Initiatives
Amma Vodi delivered financial incentives to mothers for children’s schooling, significantly elevating enrolment rates among underprivileged families and curbing dropouts in remote areas, supported by Jagananna Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevena, which offered full fee reimbursements and hostel assistance to students from economically weaker sections. YSR Aasara cleared self-help group loans for women, enabling economic independence and entrepreneurship, while inclusive governance allocated substantial resources to Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and minorities, promoting their participation in schemes and nominated positions to foster broader social equity.
Pensions, Housing, and Long-Term Inclusion
Enhanced pensions for seniors, disabled persons, and widows were distributed at doorsteps, restoring dignity and financial stability to marginalized groups often overlooked in previous administrations, and housing initiatives under Pedalandariki Illu sanctioned and constructed lakhs of homes for the poor, addressing shelter shortages in rural and urban settings. Executed through Direct Benefit Transfer, Navaratnalu minimized corruption and ensured funds reached intended recipients, substantially alleviating poverty and enhancing social mobility across Andhra Pradesh.
Sustaining the Momentum of Social Justice
Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Antyodaya vision uplifting the last created a resilient welfare ecosystem that withstood economic shocks, calling for ongoing accountability to perpetuate its inclusive ethos and adapt to the state’s diverse needs for enduring progress.
