Vijayawada, Feb 8 : For the second consecutive year in a row, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has credited Rs 285.35 crore into the bank accounts of 2,85,350 beneficiaries, including tailors, barbers and dhobis having their own shops, with each getting Rs 10,000 per annum. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Reddy said that the government is providing financial assistance to tailors, barbers and dhobis, who are in the self-employed sector, under Jagananna Chedodu scheme benefiting more than 2.85 lakh people. Asserting that the scheme is being implemented in a transparent manner without resorting to any corruption, he said that in the last two years Rs 583.78 crore was credited to all the eligible beneficiaries under this scheme. Elaborating the details, Mr Reddy said that Rs 146.10 crore was credited into the accounts of 1,46,103 tailors with shops, followed by Rs 98.44 crore to 98,439 dhobis and Rs 40.81 crore to 40,808 barbers. The funds provided by the state government can be utilized for purchasing tools, equipment and other essentials to boost their business. Referring to the agitation of teachers for pay revision, he said that vested interests had been instigating teachers to go on strike, even during Covid testing time. He said that since the last two years, all students had been passed without conducting examinations and in this third year, it was sad to see teachers going on strike leaving students getting affected towards their education. Going into the details, the Chief Minister mentioned that there were only 3.97 lakh government employees till 2019, and after YSRCP government formed, as many as 1,84,264 new jobs were created and over one lakh outsourcing employees have been receiving EPF and ESI benefits through APCOS. By regularizing RTC employees, the state government is incurring an additional burden of Rs 3,600 crore every year and besides these, minimum timescale has been brought for the contract employees. The salary bill for 3.97 lakh government employees was only Rs 1,198 crore till 2019, but now it has been increased to Rs 3,187 crore per annum, he said.(UNI)