Telangana….Welfare From Cradle to Grave : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Telangana….Welfare From Cradle to Grave

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

A welfare state is a concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the social and economic well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. Sir William Beveridge, a liberal economist of Great Britain who is considered as the author of a welfare state, in his report to the British parliament in November 1942, proposed a system of social security which would be operated by the state. Today, the ideas that were outlined in the Beveridge Report are still considered to provide the foundation of the modern Welfare State.

This is exactly or perhaps even more than Beveridge envisaged has been happening in the state of Telangana ever since TRS government came to power with KCR as the Chief Minister. Welfare encompasses those government programs that provide benefits and economic assistance to no or low income people living in Telangana. One of the main goals of welfare of Government of Telangana is to improve the quality of life and living standards for the poor and underprivileged. Welfare help is extended to poor and underprivileged, such as the elderly, the disabled, students, farmers, workers, professionals etc.

               Welfare programs available in the state include among others, land purchase scheme for distribution to Dalits; Aasara pensions to old age people, widows, handicapped, Beedi workers, toddy tappers, poor artists; six kilograms of one rupee per KG rice per head; provision of fine rice with unlimited food to hostel children; better meal with egg and milk to Lactating and pregnant women; Kalyanalaxmi and Shadimubarak Schemes; two bed room house to the poor; Post-Matric scholarships, reimbursement of tuition fees; residential schools to SC, ST, BC and minorities etc. Telangana Government has allocated huge amounts in successive budgets for the welfare. It may sound a bit philosophical, but the schemes conceived and being implemented by KCR government will take care of every stage of a human being’s life, the proverbial from “Cradle to Grave”.

Government has initiated a variety of welfare measures for the benefit of the vulnerable sections of the society. In the erstwhile united AP state budget allocation for welfare measures was very little and absolutely inadequate. Against this background as against meager allocations for welfare measures in the united AP, the Telangana Government allocated huge amounts in successive budgets. For SC and ST categories in the ratio of their population funds are being released and spent. Care has been taken for non-diversion of funds allocated for them. Welfare programs for all sections of the society in the State of Telangana are the most important priority of the State. 

          Telangana State has about 85% of SCs, STs, BCs and Minorities in its population. Even among the upper caste communities there are considerable number of poor families in the state. Out of about a Crore of families living in Telangana state, about 90% families are BPL (Below Poverty Line) category. Hence the government gave top priority for the welfare of its people. If we look at the provision made in successive budgets it can be seen that there is no other state which spends so much money on welfare of people. The earlier income limits for eligibility to become the beneficiary has been enhanced to bring in more families to be benefited. In rural areas the limit of Rs 60,000 has been increased to Rs I, 50,000 and in urban areas the limit has been enhanced from Rs 75,000 to Rs 2, 00,000.  A cross section of people including Anganwadi workers, home guards, Contract and outsourcing employees etc are benefited by welfare schemes of government.

The Government has earmarked an amount of Rs. 27, 000 Crores in the budget for welfare measures in the very first financial year budget and increased year after year. The Chief Minister has reiterated that none of the eligible persons should miss any of the benefit and under any circumstances ineligible should not be considered.

In tune with the meticulous thought process of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, the state government under his effective guidance initiated and launched hundreds of welfare schemes and programmes in Telangana State. They are all under various stages of implementation and are providing the much needed light and support to the people living under the poverty line especially of those from the downtrodden, backward and weaker sections by way of changing their lives for better. The welfare schemes launched by the government are aimed at taking care of each and every individual from the wide spectrum of the society.

Several of these innovative schemes are not only first of their kind in the country but also become role models and torch bearers for other States to emulate. From a pregnant mother to child, later the education of the child when it becomes an adult to the marriage of a girl at every phase, the government has a scheme or two. There is nothing to feel worry about as CM KCR repeatedly says his aim is to make each and every individual in the State to be happy, comfortable and prosperous.

            If we observe how KCR’s government welfare schemes are formulated and implemented at every stage of an individual’s life, it will be an interesting but yet thought provoking experience. It will also been an excellent subject material for the research scholar’s to pursue! Take for instance welfare for women.

For all the government women employees a 90-day special leave is given to them which is besides the 3 months maternity leave. A woman employee can avail this special leave till her children attain the age of 18 years in phases. For those women especially from the poor families getting their deliveries done in the government hospitals, there is a scheme to take care of her nutritional requirements during the anti-natal stage. Regular health checkups are done and the pregnant woman is monitored. When she reaches advanced stage of pregnancy, the poor woman need not got to work to eke out a daily wage. Rs. 4000 are given when she is admitted to the government hospital and another Rs. 4000 is given at the time of discharge from the hospital. Rs. 4000 is given when she comes to get her child polio drops and vaccination. If the woman is blessed with a girl child an additional Rs. 1000 is given to the mother.

KCR Kit with 16 essential items required for a newborn worth about Rs. 2000 is given to the mother and child. The government also launched a scheme known as “Amma Vodi” to bring pregnant women living in the remote agencies to the hospitals and transport her back after the delivery. Transportation is also arranged for the pregnant women to come to the hospital for medical checkup every three months during their pregnancy. After the child is born to give her nutritional diet there is “Arogya Laxmi” programme for providing nutritional diet one time daily through Anganwadi centre.

During the child’s education period, for hostel students in schools and colleges, midday meal scheme is implemented since Jan 1, 2015. Fine rice is supplied for the scheme. There is also the facility of fee reimbursement for the students. The government is paying the fee of the poor students pursuing their professional courses benefitting nearly lakhs of students. The poor students also have the benefit of scholarship scheme which is available to pre-metric, post-metric, Graduate, Postgraduate and professional education students who are poor. The state government has introduced English medium in the schools and launched in a big way residential schools for the SC/ST/Minority/BCs as part of KG to PG system of education. To increase quality of education in Government, Zilla Parishad, Residential and Model Schools, digital classes are introduced. Study Circles are formed in the districts for the SC/ST/BC students preparing for the competitive examinations conducted by the UPPSC and TSPSC.

As the child grows...for those aspiring Minority students who want to pursue their higher studies abroad, the government is giving Overseas Scholarships on the lines of Dr Ambedkar Overseas Scholarship given to the SCs. Along with the scholarship, the state government is giving Rs. 10 lakh per student for the airfare. For the backward classes, Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule Overseas Scholarship is given. At the time of marriage, there are welfare schemes like Kalyana Laxmi/Shadi Mubarak through which Rs. 75, 116 is given to the mother of bride. These schemes are given to the eligible from SC/ST/Minority communities as well as those from the BCs and so called economically backward upper castes. Since these schemes are strictly implemented to the girls who have attained the age of 18 years, there is a steep fall in the child marriages in the State. Added to these a number of other programs are being implemented for the economic upliftment of poor. One of them is the economic support scheme to provide employment to the unemployed youth. As part of this the subsidy component of the loan facility is enhanced substantially.

For every individual to have a proper meal, the government is giving 6 Kgs subsidized rice for each and every member of the family. In Hyderabad, a meal is given to the poor at a nominal price of Rs. 5 per plate.  These meal centers providing hot-hot meals are opened at the crowded places such as hospitals, bus complexes, near railway stations, markets.  Autos are available to the minority youth with 50 per cent subsidy to run the auto services in Hyderabad under "Own your Auto" Scheme. The government is taking all measures to improve the living standard of the minorities by extended schemes like TS Prime, Scholarships and a special IT Park in Hyderabad.

For the first time, keeping in view welfare of the Most Backward Classes, a separate Finance Corporation is set up. No other government in the past ever bothered about these MBCs. One should appreciate CM KCR for focusing on strengthening the rural economy. He seems to be having strong belief in the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Gram Swaraj. Realizing that several hereditary professions have lost their relevance and existence, KCR has a vision on how to revive the rural economy with a judicious mix of economic policies with the modern technologies. With the new schemes, several hereditary professions are going to have better days ahead. For the benefit and welfare of the Yadav and Kuruma communities who are traditionally dependent on sheep breeding, the state government has embarked on a slew of measures. A Sheep Unit will be given to every person, who is over 18 years of age, in Yadav and Kuruma communities in the State. Sheep will be purchased before on set of Monsoon this year. Sheep units will be sanctioned to about 4 lakh to 4.5 lakhs Yadav and Kuruma families in the State. The state government will give 75 per cent subsidy and 25 per cent will be borne by the individual beneficiary.

For those who are dependent on fisheries, the state government has initiated several schemes. 100 per cent subsidy is given for fish culture. From Cage fish culture to giving fishing rights at all reservoirs, tanks, water bodies to the communities living on the fisheries, the government is taking steps for the growth and development of fisheries in the State. The government schemes are aimed at making the state an export hub for sheep and fisheries to other states and countries. Several schemes are also in place for the development and welfare of handloom weavers and workers. Efforts are on to stop the migration of these workers to other professions, places and even to put a stop to some of them committing suicides. Special Textile parks are created with better marketing facilities, schemes are launched to give subsidies on the yarn and promote exclusive weaves.  Hair dressing saloons are brought under the category of domestic sector for power tariff and measures are initiated to upgrade saloons in the rural sector.

As part of welfare from cradle to grave, the State government has decided to put an end to the land disputes and rectify the land records. As part of this, it has brought in several reforms in Registration and Mutations. Sada Bainama (Agreements written on plain paper) below 5 acres of land in rural areas are registered free of cost.  More than 11 lakh Sada Bainama holders are benefited through this scheme. It has also been decided that Sada Bainama should be implemented to the agriculture lands under the Hyderabad Metro Development Authority (HMDA) and KUDA (Kakatiya Urban Development Area).

As promised in its election manifesto, the TRS government waived the crop loans of 36.33 Lakh farmers, which are below Rs One lakh amounting to Rs 17,000 Crore. The state government has also decided to give Rs 6 lakh ex-gratia to the farmers who have committed suicides. Of this Rs 5 lakh is given to the deceased family and Rs 1 lakh as one time settlement of the loan. Kalyan Laxmi scheme is implemented to the eligible girl in the family of the deceased. Perhaps for the first time, welfare schemes for the upper caste Brahmin community are also being implemented in the State. In the last two years Rs 200 Crore (Rs 100 Crore per year) is allotted for the Brahmin welfare.

For those 470 Martyrs who laid down their lives for the cause of separate Telangana State, the government sanctioned Rs 10 Lakh per family besides one job to the eligible person in the family and for those living on farming one acre of land. An accident life insurance scheme for Rs 5 lakh cover is implemented for the Auto, Cabs, truck drivers, drivers of other vehicles, Home Guards, Working Journalists with a premium of Rs 46. This scheme is also implemented to the members of the Fishing and Toddy Tappers Societies. The government is implementing 11 types of schemes for the construction workers. They were given the ESI health facilities besides issuing them ID Cards, collection of Cess besides providing drinking water facilities at their place of work. LPG connections are given to all the eligible in the State under Deepam Scheme to make the State Kerosene use Free State. Anganwadi teachers’ salaries are hiked by 150 per cent.

In order to help the handicapped, widows, old age persons, toddy tappers, weavers, HIV patients, Beedi rollers, old age artistes, the Government of Telangana is giving pension under the Aasara scheme. Old age people and Widows were getting Rs. 200 per month as pension earlier which has been enhanced to Rs.1, 000 now. Similarly for handicapped and old age artists the same has been enhanced from Rs.500 to Rs.1500.  Income limit for eligibility has also been enhanced to include more people. Aasara pension is also extended to Single women.

The state government has successfully implemented the SC/ST Sub Plan based on their population figures. However, when funds are not being utilized, they were not carried forward to the next year. The state Cabinet on Feb 2, 2017 has made amendments through which carry forward of the funds unspent to the next year is made possible. The SC/ST Sub Plan is renamed as SC/ST Special development Fund and it is used only for the SC/ST families and their places of residence. The Bill making these amendments was passed by the Legislative Assembly and Council. The funds granted in the Budget will directly go to the SC/ST development Ministry. Hence, there will not be any diversion of funds. Schemes and programmes for SC/STs living in rural, semi urban and urban areas will be different and are local specific.

The financial limit of the Self-help groups is hiked from Rs 5 Lakh to Rs 10 Lakh benefitting 50 lakh members belonging to 4.2 Self Help Groups in the State. The government has initiated several measures for the safety and protection of girls and women. On Aug 15, 2014, soon after the KCR government came to power, it made a beginning for free distribution of 3 acres of land for each Dalit family in the state as it will empower them. Besides this power connection and bore well is also provided to the beneficiary along with the investment for the first crop. 22 per cent of space is provided to SC/ST entrepreneurs in all the industrial parks in the State. A special Incubation Centre is provided in Hyderabad for the SC/ST entrepreneurs.  Telangana State Programme for Rapid Incubation of Dalit entrepreneurs (TS PRIDE) is also implemented.

To give a proper shelter to the poor, the government has embarked upon the 2-bed Room Houses scheme.  For the first-time in the country a house with double bed room a kitchen; hall and two bathrooms are being constructed. It is all set to construct 2.6 Lakh 2 Bed room houses in the state. In the first phase, houses were constructed in IDH Colony spending Rs 7.9 Lakh per house. In the second phase in Erravalli, Narasannapet villages in Siddipet District, mass house warming ceremony is done for 600 houses. The government is giving these houses to the beneficiaries without totally free of cost.

The government has instructed the officials to pay pension of those retiring on the same day of their retirement. The retired employee would also be given a warm farewell and dropped at his/her house in the office vehicle. The government feels that employees who have served the government deserve due respect after their retirement.

Welfare even after the death of a person is what that has been envisaged by the government. The state government is keen on making proper arrangements for those dead to provide relief to the near and dear at a time when they are all in deep sorrow.

And this is how the Telangana government is taking care of welfare of the people from cradle to grave. END