Amid rumours on cash-transfer scheme, women throng post offices in Andhra’s Ongole to open savings account, link Aadhaar

Rumours of government cash transfer scheme lead to rush at post offices in Ongole, Prakasam district.

After rumour spread on social media about a government scheme that offers monthly cash transfer to women, hundreds made beelines for post offices to open savings accounts in Ongole and surrounding villages in Prakasam district on Friday. Those who already have savings accounts in post offices insisted on linking their accounts with Aadhaar and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

According to a bogus campaign doing the rounds on social media platforms for the past one week, every woman with a savings account in post offices will receive ₹1,500 a month from the government under the Aadabidda Nidhi scheme. Those who already have such savings accounts were asked to link their accounts with Aadhaar and NPCI for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of the amounts.

Though the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had listed the Aadabidda Nidhi scheme among the ‘Super Six’ promises on its poll manifesto, it has not made any announcement on this scheme after the alliance parties formed the government. This scheme aims to provide a monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 to women between the ages 18 and 59 years.

Speaking to The Hindu, a few women standing in queues before the Ongole Head Post Office said they rushed to the post offices on learning about the scheme on Whatsapp groups. Most were members of the Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA) associations.

Asked about matter, Minister for Social Welfare Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy said Aadabidda Nidhi scheme was one of the ‘Super Six’ promises made by the TDP and its alliance parties. However, he said that the government has not made any announcement on this scheme till now, and advised the women not to believe social media posts.