In Andhra govt’s latest name change, Kalam’s name replaced with YSR’s

In yet another name change, the YS Jagan Mohan-led Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday redesignated the ‘Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar Awards’ as ‘YSR Vidya Puraskars’, inviting criticism from opposition parties.

The awards were renamed after former chief minister and Jagan Mohan’s father or YSR who died in a plane crash in 2009.

Since coming to power, the Jagan Mohan government has changed names of several schemes. ‘NTR bharosa’ was renamed ‘YSR pension kanuka’, ‘Anna canteens’ were renamed ‘Rajanna canteens’ and midday meal scheme is now called ‘YSR akshaya patra’.

“The government has ordered to re-designate the ‘Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Pratibha Puraskar Award’s as ‘YSR Vidya Puraskars’ from 2019 onwards for distribution on the occasion of birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as National Education Day on November 11, 2019” according to the sources

The award is given to deserving students in SSC. Earlier, the government used to select these students from all over the state, but now the government has changed the guidelines and the awards will be given only to government school students. Further, the awards will be given at the district level.

“This award is felicitated to the 10th standard students for their outstanding performance, on the occasion of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s birth anniversary. Unfortunately, the name of this award has changed. This shows utmost arrogance in the decision taken by the state government by disrespecting the great scientist and former president of our nation by replacing his name with the name of former CM and father of current CM YS Rajashekar Reddy,” said Dinakar, according to sources.