Andhra replaces Abdul Kalam’s name with CM’s father YSR in scholarship scheme

The name of the award scheme was changed following a proposal by the Commissioner of School Education of Andhra Pradesh. Under the scheme, 6 students in every mandal are given an award and scholarship for obtaining the highest scores in class X. The awardees include one student each from BC, SC, and ST categories, one girl student and two students from the OC category. 

The YSRCP government has renamed many schemes implemented by the previous TDP government after YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The TDP government had named most of its schemes after its founder NT Rama Rao. 

Recently, on October 15, the farmer welfare scheme ‘YSR Rythu Bharosa’ was launched. The scheme provides cash incentives to farmers, and is very similar to the ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’ scheme launched by the previous government. After receiving criticism for including funds from the Centre under the scheme, it was launched as YSR Rythu Bharosa-PM KISAN Yojana. The YSR Aarogyasri was also criticised for its name, as it is partially funded through the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana. 

At the very first cabinet meeting in June, the previous government’s healthcare scheme for the poor was renamed from ‘NTR Vaidya Seva’ to ‘YSR Arogyasri'.The pension scheme ‘NTR Bharosa' was renamed as ‘YSR Pension Kanuka'.

The ‘Anna’ canteens, which were also named after NTR and provided affordable meals to the poor, were shut down in August. The government had stated that the closure was temporary, and the canteens were expected to be reopened under the name of ‘Rajanna’ canteens.