The third phase of Rachabanda, the mass-contact programme of the state government, will commence across the state on November 11. Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will participate in the programme at Sangareddy, the district headquarters of Medak, on November 13.
But Kiran, a strong votary of Samaikyandhra, is likely to face rough weather in the Telangana region. “Telangana ministers, MPs, MLAs and people should obstruct the Rachabanda programme in Telangana,” TRS MLA T Harish Rao called upon them on Sunday. If people’s representatives supported Kiran, they would remain as Telangana traitors, Harish Rao warned.
The stiff opposition from Telangana forces to the chief minister was that he was raising his voice strongly in favour of state’s unity. Sensing trouble in the Telangana region, the chief minister chose Sangareddy, which lies on the outskirts of Hyderabad, to launch the programme.
However, inspired by the overwhelming response from the people during the last two Rachabanda programmes, the state government has decided to conduct the third round of Rachabanda from Monday.
The main thrust of Rachabanda-3, which will be held from November 11 to 26, will be to distribute benefits to people such as ration cards, pensions and certificates, sanction orders for housing, laying of foundation stones under Indiramma Kalalu, reimbursement of electricity bills to SCs and STs.
It has been decided that 17.94 lakh ration cards will be distributed during the Rachabanda-3 in which ration coupons for rations from December 2013 to June 2014 will also be distributed.
Sanction orders for pensions will be given to 8,67,092 people and sanction orders for houses to 13.65 lakh people. Electricity charges arrears for 4.98 lakh SCs and 5.15 lakh STs will be paid.
The families of SCs and STs will be paid the money for the domestic power bills of 50 units and below.
Besides, 50,000 Bangaru Talli certificates will be distributed during the programme.
The Cabinet sub-committee meeting decided to process all the applications received till October 24 for ration cards, houses and pensions.
The chief minister will lay the foundation stones for programmes being taken up under the SC and ST Sub-plan, and inaugurate the works which have been completed in various mandals.
Vaddi Leni Runaalu (interest-free loans) for the months of July, August and September to the tune of Rs 37 crore for two lakh SHGs in urban areas and to the tune of Rs 307.68 crore for 6,94,759 SHGs in rural areas will be distributed during this phase of Rachabanda.
Pensions to be distributed to 8,67,092 people put together in all the 23 districts include 3,91,573 old page pensions, 11,144 weavers, 3,56,422 widows, 3,904 toddy tappers (all Rs 200 per month) and 1,04,049 disabled persons (Rs 500.00 per month) and the total amount required is Rs 245.56 crore per year.
The government has relaxed norms for the disability pension and will give pensions to those who have 20 to 39 per cent disability against the central government’s condition of 40 per cent disability. It will benefit 84,311 disabled persons. Officials were directed to hold 150 medical boards to certify disability.
The government has completed construction of 63.89 lakh houses during 2004-2013, that of 8.67 lakh houses is in progress. In contrast, during 1995-2004, just 27.50 lakh houses had been built. The unit cost of the house has increased from Rs 31,200 to Rs 70,000 in rural areas and from Rs 43,000 to Rs 80,000 in urban areas for others and for SCs to Rs 1 lakh for STs to 1.05 lakh.Benefits worth Rs 2,5000 crore were distributed to 26 lakh families during Rachabanda-1 and benefits worth Rs 3,500 crore to 35 lakh families during Rachabanda-2.