This change to the Aasara Pension scheme would benefit more than 5 lakh disabled pensioners across the state, the Finance Minister added.
Telangana Health Minister T Harish Rao. (Twitter)
Here is yet another decision that might pay electoral dividends to the ruling BRS in Telangana in the Assembly elections scheduled for later this year.
The Aasara Pension, payable to differently-abled persons, has been hiked to ₹4,016 per month from ₹3,016, according to a Government Order (No 25) issued by the Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department.
The measure would benefit more than five lakh differently-abled persons across the state. The scheme has come into force with effect from July.
In a tweet, Finance Minister T Harish Rao described the enhancement of pension as “astounding news for the differently-abled” in Telangana.
“Like never before in the country, pension for differently-abled persons has been increased to ₹4,016 per month. This historic decision will benefit more than 5 lakh disabled pensioners.
“Our heartfelt gratitude to #CMKCR Garu, this is a testimony of the BRS government whose approach is inclusive and progressive,” he added.
Astounding news for the differently-abled in Telangana!
Like never before in the country, pensions for differently abled persons has been increased to ₹4016 per month. This historic decision will benefit more then 5 Lakh disabled pensioners.
Our heartfelt gratitude to #CMKCR… pic.twitter.com/difx0pXCUj
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) July 22, 2023
The ruling BRS has been trying to woo the different sections of the electorate with welfare measures lately.
The Aasara pension hike comes close on the heels of the rolling out a dole of ₹1 lakh to each eligible BC beneficiary to help them buy implements necessary for practising their traditional avocations.
Already about 5.28 lakh BCs have applied for financial assistance.
The help is mostly intended for the most backward classes (MBC) communities, who are still dependent on their traditional avocations to make a living, as they are in dire need of help.
The ₹1 lakh assistance scheme does not cover those who belong to BC castes which are already the beneficiaries of the government schemes like sheep and fish fingerling distribution, Kalyana Lakshmi, and support for overseas studies.
A majority of the castes that would benefit from the new scheme would be from among the MBCs who include the Rajakas (washermen), Nayi Branmins (barbers), Kummari (potters), Kamsali (goldsmiths), and so on.
The move came close on the heels of easing out of BC leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar from the helm of Telangana BJP and appointing Union Minister G Kishan Reddy in his place.
The Munnuru Kapu community to which Sanjay belongs feels estranged after his unceremonious exit and now they seem to be wondering whether they have a friend in the BJP.
Addressing a meeting of minority leaders at Jalavihar in Hyderabad on Thursday, 20 July, Finance Minister Harish Rao said that a scheme for Muslims was under the consideration of Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao.
The new scheme would probably be on the lines of the ₹1 lakh scheme announced for the BCs.
The finance minister did not elaborate on the features of the scheme but said that the BRS government wanted to help the minorities. He recalled the BRS government helping Muslim brides under the Shaadi Mubarak scheme.
When Harish Rao presented the state budget on 6 February, he described the current times as the “golden era for welfare schemes”.
Harish Rao made an allocation of ₹12,980 crore for the state government’s flagship programme of Dalit Bandhu to benefit 1,100 beneficiaries in 118 constituencies.
The finance minister allocated ₹7,890 crore for the double-bedroom scheme for 2,000 beneficiaries in each of the 119 Assembly segments. The chief minister will have the discretion of allotting another 24,000 houses.
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