Brahmin Welfare Scheme in TS, a model
For other states
Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
(Vice-Chairman Telangana Brahmin Samkshema
Parishad)
Hans India
(23-08-2019)
In a country like India, where Brahmins nurtured a
culture that the world look up with great reverence and awe from time immemorial,
ironically, things do not seem to be all hunky dory for the very initiators of
this magnificent mores. At a time when they are not getting their due share of
respect and material support from the governments, Telangana State seems to be
an exception.
The first ever Brahman Welfare meeting anywhere in
the country chaired by a Chief Minister of the state and attended by more than
80 from a cross section of the community was held on Sunday the 26th of
October 2016 in Hyderabad. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao spoke eloquently
on various hardships, issues and problems faced by Brahman Community. KCR then suggested
that a well-conceived strategy and comprehensive plan of action should be
evolved for the overall wellbeing of Brahmins in Telangana State.
The meeting observed that Brahmins primarily are
engaged in the service to humanity, from helping the individuals to get over
their day-to-day obstacles through offering Vedic remedies and performing
rituals and ceremonies from birth to death. They have been also rendering help
to spread the ancient wisdom, spiritual teachings and imparting Vedic
knowledge.
CM KCR’s that day’s
initiative ultimately led to constituting Telangana Brahmin Samkshema Parishad in
January 2017 under the Chairmanship of former IAS officer and Advisor to
Government, KV Ramana Chary with 17 members for taking care of Brahmins’ all-round
development. It was registered as Society under Societies Registration Act for
helping Brahmin Community through financial assistance in the fields of
Education, Enterprise and Culture etc. The Government since 2016-17 budget so
far allocated Rs 300 crores and released Rs 56.48 crores as per the requirement
so far.
Besides construction of
Brahmin Sadan at Gopanapally in Hyderabad, for which the foundation was laid by
the then IT Minister KT Rama Rao, the Parishad took up schemes like Sri
Ramanuja, Vivekananda Oversees Education, grants to Vedapathashala, Sampradaya
Vidyalaya, Honorarium to Vedic Scholars and students, Brahmin Entrepreneurial
Scheme of Telangana etc.
Keeping in view the needs of
Brahmin Community in the State, Government have decided to construct a
magnificent Brahmin Sadan at State Head Quarters, Hyderabad. Government
sanctioned an amount of Rs.20.025 crores for this purpose. The construction
work is in progress and out of 12 structures planned 3 structures namely, Information Centre Block, Seers Accommodation
Block and Toilet Block are almost completed. Brahmin Sadans are also coming-up
in couple of districts with voluntary donation of lands.
Under
Ramanuja Scheme, Parishad
is reimbursing the tuition fee paid by the Brahmin students pursuing Post
Metric courses who belong to BPL category. This scheme is being implemented on
par with similar scheme being implemented by State Government for other
Community students. So far, 144 students have been given financial assistance
to a tune of Rs.38,53,248.
In order to help and
encourage the Brahmin students who strongly aspire to pursue P.G. courses in
the Foreign Universities, Parishad introduced Vivekananda Overseas Education
Scheme which is similar and on par with Ambedkar Overseas Vidya Nidhi Scheme
being implemented for SC and ST students. Applications for this scheme are
received through online and beneficiaries are being selected through Selection
Committee chaired by a committee consisting of Principal Secretary Endowments. Under this scheme so far, 228
students were given financial assistance from Parishad to a tune of
Rs.19,03,31,636. Financial
assistance will be to a tune of maximum Rs 20 lakhs. Students pursue their
studies in countries like UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Japan,
Germany, France etc.
The Vedapathashala Scheme is in the form of one-time
grant of maximum of Rupees Two lakhs which will be extended to each of the Vedapathashala.
To implement this scheme in a transparent manner, Parishad has constituted an
internal committee with Parishad as members to which the applications received
will be referred and upon their recommendation assistance will be provided. Under
this scheme so far, grant is extended to as many as 25 Vedapathashala that
included Vargal (Siddipet), Achalapuram (Adilabad), Mattapalli (Nalgonda) etc. to
a tune of Rs.45,50,000.
Financial
assistance to a tune of Rs.3.00 lakhs per annum would be given in the form of
grant for running a school by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, imparting Sampradaya
vidya besides regular education to the Brahmin girl students of BPL category
studying from 7th to 10th class. So far 30 of
girl-students are enrolled in this school, and Parishad extended financial
assistance to a tune of Rs.6,00,000.
Under
Honorarium to Vedic Scholars Scheme, Rs 2500 is given to Pandits of more than
75 years old. So far 34 pandits who are learned, qualified with scholastic
ability in the Vedas and Shastras have been honored with a monthly honorarium
of Rs.8,90,000. These Pandits are selected by an internal committee. Under
Honorarium to Vedic students’ scheme stipend Rs.250 per month and sustenance
grant of Rs.3,00,000 to Rs.5,00,000 after completion of course is being given
to Vedic students. So far, 126 students have availed this stipend benefit to a
tune of Rs.5,71,250.
Brahmin
Entrepreneurial Scheme of Telangana (BEST) is meant for Brahmin Entrepreneurs
who belong to BPL category having an annual income below Rs 2 lakhs in urban
areas and Rs 1.5 lakhs in rural areas.
The unit cost under this scheme is fixed as Rs.1.00 lakhs to Rs.12.00 lakhs in three
slabs ranging from 80% subsidy to 60%. Government directed that this scheme
should be implemented on the pattern of other welfare departments. So far, 700
beneficiaries were selected for financial assistance to a tune of
Rs.21,56,34,127 under this scheme. This like the rest of the schemes is an
ongoing one.
As
on date a total of 2762 were benefited through various schemes of Brahmin
Parishad and the amount spent totals to about Rs 50 Crores.
The imitative taken by CM KCR had brought to light
the true essence of Brahmans existence and the need of the society to preserve
and protect them for the larger interest of the society in general, country in
particular. The meeting chaired by him in October 2016 paved way for their
welfare and for drawing a strategy for it. It also led to encouragement to
Vedic studies, financial assistance to spiritual thinkers, provision for
education, skill development, encouragement to entrepreneurs etc. The Complex
that is being planned in Hyderabad will be a platform for development of
Brahman community and provides for a traditional accommodation to
Peetaadhipathis and scholars coming from outside. This is in way an all-round
development plan of the Brahman community.
Telangana Brahmin Welfare is now a role model to
other states. Welfare of this nature of Brahmans will be bliss to the Supreme
Being.
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