Fresh Row Over Talliki Vandanam

The Andhra Pradesh government's 'Talliki Vandanam' scheme has come under criticism, with allegations that a significant number of eligible beneficiaries have been left out. According to UDISE data, the state has 8.741 million students, but the scheme reportedly covered only 6.476 million beneficiaries this year, leaving around 2.265 million students or their mothers without benefits.

Critics also claim that while the scheme requires an annual allocation of ₹13,112.82 crore, only ₹10,120.78 crore was approved this year. They further allege that funds released in the previous year were also insufficient, resulting in substantial pending dues over the last three years. The state government is yet to issue an official response to these claims.