Hyderabad:
The Congress has announced six guarantees if it comes to power in Telangana, in what is now becoming an increasingly well-known strategy. Buoyed by its landslide victory in neighboring Karnataka earlier this year, the Congress has announced provisions for everyone – women, farmers, youth, state activists, elderly and the homeless.
“I, along with my colleagues, had the opportunity to be part of the birth of this great state. Now it is our duty to take it to a new height,” former party chief Sonia Gandhi said while making the announcement .
“It has been my dream to see a Congress government in Telangana that will work for all sections of society. Are you all going to give us your support?” she asked the people.
Telangana was formed in 2014 when the UPA was still in power after Mrs Gandhi gave assurances for the formation of a new state. The decades-long agitation was led by K Chandrasekhar Rao, who has led the state since its inception and is hoping for a third consecutive term in power.
The biggest announcement is for the women in the southern state – the Mahalakshmi scheme – which not only includes Rs 500 subsidized petrol money and free travel on government buses, but also a financial Rs 2,500 per month.
The scheme for farmers includes an annual subsidy of Rs 15,000, a bonus of Rs 500 for paddy crops and Rs 12,000 for farm laborers.
Under the Gruha Jyothi Guarantee, all households will receive 200 units of free electricity and under the Indiramma Indlu Guarantee, those without their own homes will get a place to live and Rs 5 lakh.
Those who campaigned for the Telangana movement will receive plots of 250 square meters.
The programs for students and youth include Vidya Bharosa cards worth Rs 5 lakh and an international school in each district.
The elderly will get a monthly pension of Rs 4,000 and a cover of Rs 10 lakh under the Rajiv Arogyasri insurance.
Most schemes surpass state government schemes, many of which are the best in the country.
For example, Rao’s government is already paying Rs 2,016 as pension, which is among the highest in the country. But they have said they can match the amount Congress offers.
The state’s farmer investment support scheme, Rythu Bandhu, gives each farmer Rs 4,000 per hectare during the growing season, but this is only for landed farmers and not for the tenants or landless labourers.
Arogyasree’s health insurance is already one of the best in the country and better than the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat. But a cover of Rs 10 lakh is the higher limit.
The state also offers a higher education reimbursement scheme for almost every category of students.
The KCR government also has a 2BHK housing scheme.
