After keeping silent for over six months, village and ward volunteers appointed by the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh have taken to the agitation path demanding that the system be restored and they be reappointed.
Starting Thursday, the volunteers have announced a three-day statewide protest, demanding job security, justice, and the fulfilment of promises made during the election period.
State Volunteers Association honorary president G Eshwarayya said the protest will begin with volunteers submitting petitions to village and ward secretariat administrators on Thursday.
On January 3, they will stage a symbolic act of begging on their knees at district centers to highlight their financial struggles.
The agitation will culminate on January 4 with a 'Back to Walk' march, symbolizing the alleged backward steps taken by chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and deputy CM Pawan Kalyan in addressing their concerns.
Introduced by Jagan in 2019, the village volunteer system was designed to provide rural employment and ensure last-mile delivery of government services.
Around 2.5 lakh volunteers, each responsible for 40-50 households, played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, assisting with fever surveys and vaccination drives.
However, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) accused volunteers of political bias and data misuse during the recent assembly elections.
Despite promises of salary hikes and skill development during the campaign, volunteers are now facing uncertainty and unpaid salaries since May.
The TDP government, on its part, blamed the lack of a fresh Government Order (GO) since 2023, which it claims prevents the legal utilization of volunteer services.
As tensions rise, all eyes are on the government to address the demands of thousands of volunteers who played a vital role in state governance and welfare initiatives.
