Empowering Women: A Closer Look at Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Cheyutha Scheme

The YSR Cheyutha scheme is a groundbreaking social empowerment initiative. Ysr Cheyutha release date is 12th November 2020. The Government of Andhra Pradesh launched it. This visionary program was named after the late Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Rajasekhara Reddy, known as YSR. The scheme was designed to provide financial assistance and create livelihood opportunities for women belonging to Backward Classes (BC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and minority communities who are between the ages of 45 and 60 years. The primary objective of the YSR Cheyutha scheme is to enhance income generation, wealth creation, and overall well-being among its beneficiaries, ultimately leading to better living standards.

Objectives of the YSR Cheyutha Scheme

The primary objectives of the YSR Cheyutha scheme can be summarized as follows:

1. To extend financial assistance of ₹75,000/- in four phases over four years to eligible women beneficiaries through various welfare corporations.
2. To provide employment opportunities to women by linking them with diverse sectors such as dairy, poultry, horticulture, retail, and food processing, among others.
3. Empower women beneficiaries by offering them access to skill development programs, digital literacy, financial inclusion, and social security.

Key Features of the YSR Cheyutha Scheme

The YSR Cheyutha scheme boasts several key features that make it a comprehensive program for women’s empowerment:

1. Coverage

Approximately 23 lakh women beneficiaries from BC, SC, ST, and minority communities between the ages of 45-60 years are covered under this scheme.

2. Financial Assistance

Each beneficiary receives ₹18,750 per year for four years, directly transferred to their bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

3. Livelihood Opportunities

The scheme provides livelihood opportunities by linking women beneficiaries with various sectors, fostering economic independence.

4. Skill Development

Skill development, digital literacy, financial inclusion, and social security measures are offered through training, exposure visits, bank linkages, insurance coverage, and more.

Target Beneficiaries

The YSR Cheyutha scheme primarily focuses on women belonging to the following categories:

1. Backward Classes (BC): This category includes socially and economically disadvantaged groups within the broader population.
2. Scheduled Castes (SC): Beneficiaries from the SC category, historically marginalized due to caste-based discrimination, receive support under the scheme.
3. Scheduled Tribes (ST): Women from the ST communities, often living in remote and underdeveloped regions, are eligible for assistance.
4. Minority Communities: Minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis, are also covered by the scheme.

YSR Cheyutha Scheme in 2023

As of 2023, ysr cheyutha status is good. The YSR Cheyutha scheme has completed two implementation phases. In the first phase (2020-21), approximately 23 lakh women beneficiaries received ₹18,750 each, amounting to ₹4,319 crore. In the second phase (2021-22), around 23.14 lakh women beneficiaries received ₹18,750 each, totaling ₹4,339.39 crore. The third phase (2022-23) is expected to commence soon, benefiting the same number of women beneficiaries with the same amount of financial assistance.

The scheme has forged significant partnerships with prominent organizations:

1. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amul to provide dairy development activities for nearly 9.75 lakh women beneficiaries under YSR Cheyutha and YSR Asara schemes.
2. An MoU with Reliance Retail to offer retail business opportunities to about 10 lakh women beneficiaries under YSR Cheyutha and YSR Asara schemes.
3. An MoU with Procter & Gamble (P&G) to provide skill development and employment opportunities to approximately 2.5 lakh women beneficiaries.

Success of Scheme

The YSR Cheyutha scheme has been undeniably successful in achieving its objectives and transforming the lives of women beneficiaries:

1. It has disbursed ₹8,658.39 crore to around 23.14 lakh women beneficiaries in two phases, offering significant financial support.
2. The scheme has provided livelihood opportunities to approximately 22.5 lakh women beneficiaries by linking them with various sectors, fostering economic independence.
3. Over 15 lakh women have benefited from skill development, digital literacy, financial inclusion, and social security interventions.
4. The scheme has improved the living standards and overall well-being of beneficiaries and their families.
5. It has contributed significantly to social empowerment and gender equality by increasing women’s participation and decision-making power in their households and communities.
6. The YSR Cheyutha scheme is strategically integrated with other government programs and initiatives to maximize its impact, promoting synergy and comprehensive development. These include YSR Pension Kanuka and MGNREGA. 

Challenges of Scheme

While the YSR Cheyutha scheme has achieved remarkable success, it has also faced challenges in its implementation:

1. Delays and glitches in verifying and identifying eligible beneficiaries are due to insufficient documentation and data mismatches.
2. Difficulties in ensuring the timely and transparent transfer of funds to beneficiaries’ bank accounts attributed to technical issues and network problems.
3. A lack of infrastructure and market linkages often hinders the quality and sustainability of livelihood opportunities provided to beneficiaries.
4. The scheme has faced criticism and opposition from various quarters, including opposition parties and civil society organizations, who have raised concerns about political motivations, inefficiency, and corruption.

How to Apply for the YSR Cheyutha Scheme?

The application process for the YSR Cheyutha scheme is facilitated online. The following steps outline the application process:

1. Log in to the Citizen Schemes Portal using Aadhaar-tagged mobile OTP authentication.
2. Select “YSR Cheyutha” from the schemes dropdown and submit your application.
3. Applications are forwarded to Welfare and Education Assistants (WEA) or Ward Welfare and Development Secretaries (WWDS).
4. Volunteers, WEAs, and WWDS conduct field verifications gather eKYC information, make recommendations, and forward applications to Mandal Parishad Development Officers (MPDO) or Municipal Commissioners (MC).
5. MPDOs/MCs review applications, make recommendations and forward them to the Executive Directors of the Backward Classes Welfare Department (ED BC).
6. ED BCs verify the applications and make relevant recommendations.

Conclusion

The YSR Cheyutha scheme is a remarkable initiative by the Government of Andhra Pradesh to uplift women from marginalized communities by providing financial assistance and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. While the scheme has achieved considerable success in improving the lives of women beneficiaries, it has also faced challenges in its implementation.

Continuous monitoring, evaluation, and improvement are crucial to ensure the scheme’s effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. The YSR Cheyutha scheme stands as a testament to the transformative power of targeted social empowerment programs, offering hope and a brighter future for women in Andhra Pradesh.