The Election Commission of India has asked the Andhra Pradesh Government to stop distributing government assistance schemes at the doorsteps of beneficiaries due to the Model Code of Conduct.
The ECI issued a circular directing the AP Government not to distribute welfare schemes like pensions directly to beneficiaries at their homes. They also instructed the Government to retrieve mobile phones and equipment given to village volunteers until the MCC is lifted.
The Government was told to find alternative ways to distribute the schemes, as the current system was not in line with the Model Code of Conduct.
This decision mirrors a similar move made by the ECI in Telangana, where they stopped the distribution of “Rythu Bandhu” assistance before elections.
The village volunteer system, which received praise from other states and international recognition, was utilized by the AP Government during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure schemes reached the people.
Despite initial criticism from political leaders like N Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan, they later backtracked due to political backlash.
