Telangana, the torchbearer of welfarism in country Premium
The Hindu
Telangana govt. has increased welfare net, providing pensions to beedi workers, single women, dialysis victims, and the disabled. Funds from these schemes have gone into agriculture, making it the top producer of paddy in the country. Over the last nine years, lakhs of people have benefited from the schemes, with the number of Asara pension beneficiaries increasing from 28,47,855 to 43,81,338. The monthly pension amount has also been significantly increased, with the disabled now receiving ₹4,016 per month. Telangana is the only State providing pension support to beedi workers. Telangana govt. has increased welfare net, providing pensions to beedi workers, single women, dialysis victims, and the disabled. Funds from these schemes have gone into agriculture, making it the top producer of paddy in the country. Over last nine yrs, lakhs of people have benefited, with Asara pension beneficiaries increasing from 28,47,855 to 43,81,338. Monthly pension amount significantly increased, disabled now receiving ₹4,016/month. Telangana only State providing pension support to beedi workers.
As the country debates the pros and cons of welfare schemes and even as a section of society views them as mere political tools to woo the voters at the cost of the economy, the Telangana government doesn’t seem to shy away from increasing the welfare net by bringing in more sections under its ambit.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao describes Telangana as the epitome of welfare, while Municipal Minister K.T. Rama Rao challenges other political parties to show if any other State is close to Telangana in implementing welfare schemes. “We understand the pain and needs of the lower rung of the society that needs the support of the government. Such schemes are also introduced in the interest of the State to keep the society free of conflicts arising out of the economic barricades,” argues Mr. K.T. Rama Rao.
The Telangana government makes no bones about the success of the schemes positively contributing to the State’s economy with people strengthened with more purchasing power. Funds from these schemes have directly gone into agriculture, making it the top producer of paddy in the country, while other schemes like Aasra pensions have ensured that the confidence of the elders is intact and they lead a dignified life without much dependency on the children.
Over the last nine years, lakhs of people have directly benefitted from the schemes while thousands of people have been brought under the welfare ambit. The government figures reveal that in 2014, the number of Asara pension beneficiaries was only 28,47,855. The Telangana government has increased the number to 43,81,338 by 2023.
Similarly, in 2014, ₹67.47 crore per month was spent on the monthly pension Asara. Today, the government is providing ₹ 976.42 crore per month for the same. The recent decision to enhance the physically challenged persons pension to ₹4,016 would benefit 5,11,656 persons.
Initially, the government provided pension support to the elderly, differently-abled, HIV-AIDS victims, handloom workers, and stone masons. Furthermore, the government implemented the Asara Pension Scheme for beedi workers from March 2015, single women from April 2017, filaria-affected persons from April 2018, and dialysis victims from August 2022.
Mr. K.T. Rama Rao says Telangana is the only State providing pension support to beedi workers. The government has also reduced the eligibility age for old age pension from 65 to 57 years. With this decision, the government in August 2022 approved to grant new old-age pensions as well as new support pensions to 10 lakh beneficiaries across various categories.
With increased terminal entry points (eGates) at Mumbai International airport from 24 to 68, which is the highest number of e-gates at kerbside or landside in the country, the expansion will enhance the airport’s processing capacity to an astounding 7,440 passengers per hour at Terminal 2 (T2) and 2,160 at T1