In a major welfare push, Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday began disbursing Rs 8,745 crore under 'Talliki Vandanam' scheme, a direct benefit transfer initiative aimed at empowering mothers of school-going children. The scheme, a key election promise of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, is part of his broader "Super Six" governance agenda and is expected to benefit 6.7 million students across the state.

What Is 'Talliki Vandanam'?

Under the scheme, Rs 15,000 per child is being credited directly to the accounts of mothers with no cap on the number of children per household. “Among the Super Six guarantees, Thalliki Vandanam scheme is the flagship initiative. We firmly believe that if a household has two or more children, it is not fair to offer the benefit to only one. That’s why we have designed the scheme to support all children in a family,” said Naidu, addressing a press conference at his residence in Undavalli, as per a report on PTI.

The initiative represents a significant increase from the previous Amma Vodi programme, expanding the beneficiary base from 42.6 lakh to 67.2 lakh mothers—an increase of nearly 24.65 lakh recipients.

Of the Rs 10,091 crore sanctioned under this scheme, Rs 8,745 crore is being disbursed directly to mothers, while Rs 1,346 crore has been allocated for improving school infrastructure, as per reports. The government claims this expanded rollout not only fulfills a major campaign promise but also reflects its commitment to education-driven development.

Andhra Pradesh Welfare Initiatives 

Meanwhile, marking one year of NDA rule in the state, Naidu took to social media to reaffirm his government’s commitment to delivering good governance and comprehensive development, reported PTI. He also highlighted several other achievements from the government’s first year in office—ranging from the revival of Anna Canteens and increased pension disbursement, to significant strides in agriculture support, including the procurement of 55 tonnes of paddy and infrastructure for irrigation.

Looking ahead, Naidu announced that the ‘Annadata Sukhibhava’ scheme—promising Rs 20,000 annual aid to farmers—will be launched later this June, further solidifying the state’s welfare roadmap.