Civilian Supplies Minister Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao said the YSRCP government had paid 759 billion yen to the YSR Vahana Mitra program in three phases, which would benefit many auto rickshaw and taxi drivers across the state.
Mr. Rao, along with Collector J. Nivas and other elected officials, participated in the induction program via videoconference and handed checks for 26.35 crore to the district government on Tuesday for payment of ₹ 10,000 each to 26,358 drivers in the district.
The minister said the government launched the 2019 program to fulfill Prime Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s promise to taxi and auto rickshaw drivers during his padayatra.
He said the 10,000 yen financial aid to drivers will help them meet requirements such as vehicle maintenance and insurance.
Collector Mr. Nivas said there are 26,358 beneficiaries in the district and 4,622 of them are new beneficiaries. He said the Gannavaram assembly constituency had 2,522 beneficiaries, the highest in the district.
He urged drivers to make optimal use of the financial aid by maintaining their vehicles and strictly complying with traffic regulations.
The chairman of the Brahmin Welfare Corporation as well as Malladi Vishnu, MLC Md. Karimunnisa and others from the central MLA of Vijayawada were present.