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
