Congress Welfare Schemes Unmatched in India: Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy
Karimnagar, January 22, 2025
Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has declared that the welfare initiatives introduced by the Congress government in Telangana are unparalleled in independent India. Speaking at Praja Palana Gram Sabhas in Karimnagar district on Wednesday, the minister emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that every eligible beneficiary receives support through various schemes.
Accompanied by Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, and MLAs Dr. K. Satayanarayana (Manakondur), Medipally Satyam (Choppadandi), Aadi Srinivas (Vemulawada), and A. Lakshman Kumar (Dharmapuri), as well as senior leaders and officials, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy participated in Gram Sabhas held at Renikunta (Manakondur), Narayanpur (Choppadandi), Rudrangi (Vemulawada), and Jaina (Dharmapuri). He reassured the public that the government’s welfare programs aim to achieve complete saturation, ensuring no deserving individual is left behind.
Ration Cards for All Eligible Families
The minister announced a seamless and continuous process for issuing new ration cards to all eligible families, emphasizing transparency and accountability. He criticized the previous BRS government for issuing fewer than 40,000 ration cards over its decade-long rule, contrasting this with the Congress government’s efforts to benefit an additional 40 lakh people.
“Ration cards are essential for poor families, and our government is ensuring comprehensive coverage,” he said. “After issuing the cards, each cardholder will receive 6 kg of fine rice per person, free of cost. Unlike the coarse grain distributed earlier, this initiative guarantees quality and prevents misuse.” He added that this scheme, costing the government an additional Rs 11,000 crore annually, reflects the Congress government’s commitment to the welfare of the poor.
Revival of Indiramma Housing Scheme
Uttam Kumar Reddy criticized the BRS government for its unfulfilled promises regarding double-bedroom houses, accusing it of failing to deliver housing benefits to the poor. Highlighting the Congress government’s reintroduction of the Indiramma Indlu program, he assured the public that every eligible family would receive Rs 5 lakh for house construction, with an additional Rs 1 lakh allocated for SC and ST beneficiaries.
“Unlike the previous regime, which cheated people with empty promises, our government is committed to providing housing until saturation is achieved,” he said. He urged those who were not included in the initial beneficiary list to apply through Gram Sabhas or designated officials, assuring them that every eligible family would receive housing assistance.
Support for Farmers and Agricultural Workers
The Congress government has also prioritized farmers and agricultural workers. Under the Indiramma Rythu Bharosa scheme, landowners receive Rs 12,000 per acre, and crop loans have been waived in a single installment. In a unique initiative, the Indiramma Atmeeya Bharosa Pathakam provides Rs 12,000 annually to landless agricultural workers. Families without cultivable land are also supported through MGNREGS, with women receiving Rs 12,000 annually under this scheme.
Narayanpur Project to Be Completed in One Year
During his visit to Karimnagar, Uttam Kumar Reddy also announced the expedited completion of the Narayanpur reservoir, a long-neglected project. He revealed that Rs 32 crore is required for land acquisition and Rs 10 crore for completing the remaining works. Once completed, the project will create an additional ayacut of 70,000 acres, benefiting farmers in the region.
The minister criticized the previous BRS government for wasting funds on irrigation projects with minimal results, assuring that the Congress government is focused on efficient resource utilization. He also promised the completion of pending works on the Yellampalli Reservoir within a year.
Transformational Initiatives for Telangana
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar highlighted the Congress government’s other welfare measures, including free travel for women in RTC buses, free power up to 200 units, Rs 500 gas cylinders, and free electricity for farmers. He urged the public to ignore BRS propaganda and support the Congress government, which remains open to constructive criticism and innovation.
The ministers also inaugurated the Primary Marketing Cooperation Society office in Gangadhar Mandal and inspected various irrigation projects, including the Rudrangi Tank.
With a budget allocation of Rs 40,000 crore for welfare schemes, the Congress government aims to set a benchmark for governance in Telangana. Ministers assured the public that applications for welfare benefits would remain open indefinitely to ensure no eligible individual is excluded.
“The Congress government is dedicated to serving the people efficiently and ensuring prosperity for every household in Telangana,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy.
