Lakshmi Narayana
Puttaparthi: In a move underscoring his administration’s dedication to societal welfare, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu disbursed funds from the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme to beneficiaries at Gundumala, in Puttaparthi’s Madakashira Mandal, Sri Satya Sai District, on Thursday.
During his visit, he personally engaged with the beneficiaries to understand their financial conditions and challenges.
Marking his inaugural visit to Sri Sathya Sai district as Chief Minister, Naidu received a warm reception from enthusiastic activists, fans, and local women in Gundumala. As part of the NTR Bharosa pension distribution program, he personally handed over widow pensions to Obulamma and old-age pensions to Pulamasi Ramanna.
Expressing her gratitude, Obulamma shared, “Receiving the NTR Bharosa pension of Rs 4000 from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has brought immense happiness to our family. The pension, along with other government benefits, has allowed us to live without fear, fostering a belief in the prosperity under the TDP government.” She added, “My husband, from the Schedule Caste Madiga community, passed away ten years ago due to health issues. With two sons and two daughters married and living separately, I survive as an agricultural laborer, supplementing my income with small jobs. The widow pension of Rs 4000 is crucial for my sustenance. I request the government to grant a private house in our village, as the roof of my old house, built 25 years ago, is now damaged.”
Similarly, 70-year-old Pulamasi Ramanna, from the Valmiki Boya community, also expressed his gratitude. “The increased pension from Rs 3000 to Rs 4000, as promised by Chief Minister Naidu, is a lifeline for elderly people like us who lack family support. In the past, we had to navigate through office bureaucracies for our monthly pension. Now, receiving it directly from the Chief Minister feels like a blessing,” he said. Ramanna, an agricultural laborer, has two sons and a daughter, all married and living separately. His eldest son, Maruti, holds an MA and B.Ed but works as a daily laborer in the water works department, while his wife, Kamakshi, is a B.Sc. B.Ed graduate working as a private school teacher. His second son, with limited education, makes a living through labor, and his wife earns Rs 30 per day from the flower business. The family, who regularly conduct satsang bhajans, rely heavily on the old-age pension.
Responding to the pensioners’ plights, Chief Minister Naidu directed the District Collector to provide Ramanna’s family with land and employment opportunities, and to construct a house for Obulamma. This initiative highlights the government’s ongoing commitment to improving the living conditions of its citizens.
