The village volunteer system which was one of the hallmarks of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government has been watered down by the new Andhra Pradesh government led by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). slug
Soon after coming to power for the first time in 2019, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, fresh from his padayatra (walkathon) of over 3500 km and based on his meetings with lakhs of people, implemented an idea that would provide employment to rural youth and also help in last-mile delivery of government schemes. Around 2.5 lakh volunteers were appointed across the state with each volunteer entrusted with the responsibility of handling 40-50 houses and ensuring that households benefit from schemes and services offered by the government. The volunteers were paid around Rs 5000 per month.
The volunteer system proved to be very beneficial for the government during the pandemic as the volunteers along with medical workers took part in fever surveys and vaccination programmes. The model was promoted by the YSRCP government as a huge success. Other state governments also studied the volunteer system and showed interest in replicating it.
However, in the run-up to the assembly election held early this year, the Jana Sena party (JSP) and the TDP accused the volunteers of aligning themselves with the then YS Jagan government and also misusing the data. However, the TDP under Chandrababu Naidu did not completely disown them during the campaign and tried to woo the volunteers with a promise of a hike and also by improving their skills. After the elections, since the time TDP formed the government, the volunteers are groping in the dark as they stare at an uncertain future and job insecurities.
One such volunteer is Jyothi from Manjeru village in the Kakinada district in the Godavari region. She has worked as a village volunteer from 2019 to 2024. “I got my last salary in May and since then my family’s financial situation has changed. The Rs 5000 income was useful for petty expenses but since the salary has stopped, my family is completely dependent on agricultural income which we get once in 6 months.”
She stressed the comfort factor that was attached to her previous job. “I live in a rural village which has poor transport and connectivity. If we have to work then we have to travel a lot to reach the nearest town. Being a village volunteer was comfortable as the job required me to stay within the village and even the timings for flexible.” Like many others, Jyothi wishes that the village volunteer system is continued.
Some of the volunteers have taken to the streets to protest demanding that the state take care of their employment needs. The protestors are being supported by the Communist Party of India (CPI).
CPI’s Andhra Pradesh Secretary, K. Ramakrishna said, “I have been requesting Chandrababu Naidu for only one thing— to fulfil his pre-poll promises. It is not right to do injustice to them (volunteers) by using the excuse that there are no files or records about them. They work for a paltry sum of Rs 5,000 per month and are low-level workers. It is unfair to target them for political reasons. During the elections, Chandrababu Naidu told them that Rs 5,000 wouldn’t be enough and promised to increase it to Rs 10,000 per month. Now that they are in power, they are not talking about it. You (TDP) can find former YSRCP leaders useful and welcome them into your party, yet you still see Jagan Mohan Reddy in these volunteers.”
The TDP government has blamed the previous government for not issuing a fresh Government Order since 2023 related to the village volunteers because of which they are unable to legally utilise the services of the village volunteers.
