During the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government in Andhra Pradesh, around 2.67 lakh volunteers were appointed to act as a bridge between the administration and beneficiaries of welfare schemes. Each volunteer managed 50 households, ensuring the smooth delivery of government benefits across rural and urban areas. However, these volunteers faced criticism from opposition parties, who alleged that they operated as YSRCP workers, especially during elections. Adding to the controversy, a promise to increase their monthly stipend to ₹10,000, made during the polls, remained unfulfilled.
A recent statement by Minister Dola Bala Veeranjaneyaswamy has stirred the issue further. He questioned how salaries could be paid to a “non-existent volunteer system,” comparing it to naming an imaginary child. This remark has left many former volunteers feeling neglected. Reports suggest the YSRCP government halted the volunteer system in August last year, with claims that volunteers were pressured to resign during the election period. When asked about the NDA government’s failure to implement its promise of doubling volunteer pay, the minister shifted the blame onto the YSRCP, raising doubts about the current government’s stance.
The NDA, which had campaigned on retaining the volunteer system and improving their benefits, now appears to have moved away from those commitments. Critics compare this to the YSRCP’s reversal on Amaravati’s capital status, seeing it as another instance of broken promises. Meanwhile, the NDA has clarified that pensions are being distributed efficiently through Sachivalayam staff, indicating a permanent shift away from the volunteer framework.
Despite controversies, the role of volunteers in implementing welfare schemes was significant. Their efforts ensured timely pension delivery and the effective execution of various initiatives. For five years, the YSRCP relied on this system to strengthen its governance. Now, with the discontinuation of volunteers, many welfare beneficiaries have expressed dissatisfaction with the changes.
The YSRCP seems ready to leverage this growing discontent. Plans to bring this issue into public focus and mobilize the large network of former volunteers for protests are reportedly underway. This brewing tension could pose a serious challenge to the ruling NDA government in the near future, with the opposition gearing up to amplify these grievances.