Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has made critical remarks about the state’s volunteer system, following a meeting with village sarpanches in Amaravati. Addressing requests to abolish the volunteer system, he assured that the alliance government aims to enhance volunteer welfare rather than dismantle their roles.
Pawan Kalyan criticized the previous administration, saying they misled volunteers and exploited a technical gap, which could lead to job termination for many, despite their not being officially part of the system.
During the Andhra Pradesh general elections, the volunteer system became a contentious topic. With the election code in effect, the Election Commission placed volunteers on standby, reassigning pension distribution responsibilities to village and ward secretariat employees. The commission also retracted mobile devices issued to volunteers.
Commitment to Salary Hike
Amid these developments, some volunteers resigned, while others collectively withdrew from their roles, turning the volunteer system into a major election issue. While the YSRCP alleged the alliance would abolish the system, the alliance assured voters it would preserve it and pledged to increase volunteer salaries to INR 10,000 per month.
After the alliance assumed power, discussions continued over the future of the volunteer system. Despite statements from Chief Minister Chandrababu and other ministers indicating volunteers would remain, a final decision is pending. Some volunteers have voiced complaints against the prior administration, alleging forced resignations during elections and seeking reinstatement in multiple appeals to government officials.