The Andhra Pradesh government is facing growing criticism as several key issues have started snowballing into statewide unrest. Officials point out that most of these problems could be eased if the government immediately allocates around ₹10,000 crore.
The first big challenge comes from fee reimbursement arrears. Under the previous YSRCP government, the scheme was altered to deposit money directly into mothers’ accounts, with instructions to pay colleges only if they were satisfied with the teaching standards. After the new NDA government took charge, this policy was reversed to make payments directly to colleges again. Colleges have now made it clear that certificates will not be issued until dues are cleared, pushing students and parents into severe financial strain. The pending amount here is over ₹4,200 crore, and officials suggest that at least ₹2,000 crore must be released immediately to avoid further crises.
The second major problem is with NTR Vaidya Seva healthcare services. From last week, corporate hospitals across the state have stopped treating patients under the scheme, citing unpaid arrears of nearly ₹2,500 crore. Hospitals insist that services will only resume once these dues are settled. This has left thousands of patients stranded, turning healthcare into another pressing crisis.
The third challenge is Anganwadi workers’ strike threat. They have already served notice that they will go on strike from the 30th of this month if their long-pending salaries and promised pay hikes are not cleared. The burden here is estimated at around ₹1,000 crore.
Taken together, these three issues add up to nearly ₹7,000 crore in immediate liabilities. Officials say that if the government allocates at least this amount now, it can restore normalcy and avoid large-scale unrest. CM Chandrababu Naidu is expected to take a decision in the coming days, as these matters are quickly becoming a litmus test for his administration’s ability to manage public welfare and financial commitments.
Related