Retired Andhra IAS officer M Samuel, who is already serving as an advisor to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been given the additional and all-important assignment to oversee the implementation of Navaratnalu scheme as vice-chairman.  He will hold a Cabinet rank.

Navaratnalu is made up of nine welfare schemes announced by Reddy during the election campaigning. These include fee reimbursement, YSR Raithu Bharosa, Aarogya Sri among others.

The appointment of a top bureaucrat, instead of a politician, suggests that Jagan trusts Samuel better qualified to do the needful.

Being in the Chief Minister's Office, Samuel will coordinate with all the departments to ensure that promises made as part of Navaratnalu are implemented as planned.