*Implement 'Thalliki Vandanam' for every eligible student without restrictions*

Tadepalli, July 17: YSRCP BC Cell Working President Ramesh Goud demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government implement the Thalliki Vandanam scheme for every eligible student without imposing what he described as arbitrary conditions. Addressing the media at the YSRCP Central Office in Tadepalli, he said no poor student should be forced to discontinue education because of financial hardship. He credited former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy with introducing the *Amma Vodi* scheme to ensure access to education for poor children and alleged that the present government had weakened the programme by renaming it and restricting its implementation.

Ramesh Goud said that according to UDISE data, the state has about 87 lakh students, but the government has announced implementation of the scheme for only 66 lakh students with an allocation of Rs.10,126 crore, instead of covering all eligible students. He estimated that Rs.13,112 crore would be required annually to provide Rs.15,000
 to every student and alleged that nearly Rs.22,000 crore remains unpaid over the past three years. He urged the government to clear all pending dues, remove restrictive eligibility conditions, and implement the scheme for every eligible student without discrimination. He warned that YSRCP would continue its agitation until Thalliki Vandanam and all Super Six promises are fully implemented and said the party would not remain silent if students were denied their rightful benefits.