We are pioneering a Telangana model for the Congress, says Deputy CM Bhatti

Revolutionary development model in Telangana by Congress government focuses on inclusive growth, social justice, and economic dynamism.

The initiatives taken by the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government in Telangana will evolve as a development model in which robust economic growth and social inclusion go hand in hand, said Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu.

“A Telangana model is in the making, and this is in line with our leader Rahul Gandhi’s vision of social justice, secularism and inclusive growth,” Mr. Bhatti said. “The Congress is working towards a vision of growth and inclusion, nationally, as an alternative to the BJP vision. We are using the historic mandate in Telangana to pioneer it,” Mr. Bhatti told The Hindu in an exclusive interview.

Mr. Bhatti also holds the Finance portfolio in the Reddy government in Telangana. The Congress had won the 2023 Assembly election in Telangana offering a new welfare architecture for the State based on six guarantees which included free bus ride for women and free electricity up to 200 units a month. Mr. Bhatti said the Reddy government had gone beyond the six guarantees and this year’s Budget had kicked off transformational schemes in education, women and tribal welfare. “In addition to the inclusive growth path, there is complete harmony within the party under the leadership of the Chief Minister,” Mr. Mallu said.

The Deputy Chief Minister, who presented the State Budget on March 19, said a slew of new projects announced in it would combine social progress and grassroots economic dynamism, particularly among tribespeople and women. The Young India Integrated Residential Schools scheme, named after the magazine run by Mahatma Gandhi, has been allotted ₹11,600 crore. “We are spending ₹200 crore for each school and we are planning to complete 58 of them this year itself. The aim is to have to one such school in each Assembly constituency, where students from all social groups will have world-class, residential school facility. Each school will be built on 25 acres of land, and will have the latest technology and sport facilities,” Mr. Bhatti said. He said the schools will most importantly help the disadvantaged sections of the society to find better opportunities in life.

He noted that Telangana has completed a caste census and the data would be analysed to ensure focused intervention for the welfare of the most vulnerable segments. Mr. Bhatti, a Dalit leader and CM aspirant himself, was working president of the State party unit in the run up to the 2023 election. He said this year’s Budget included the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan which was ignored by the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi government. The government has allotted ₹40,232 crore for SC and ₹17,169 crore for ST welfare, respectively.

Under the Indira Giri Jalvikasam, 2.1 lakh tribal farmers will be provided solar-powered irrigation systems free of cost. “This will not require long electricity lines or any big construction in forest areas. We will ensure smooth coordination between various departments to get this project implemented on war footing,” said Mr. Bhatti.

Mr Bhatti said another focus area of the government was to encourage entrepreneurship and economic dynamism among women through self-help groups (SHGs), and small and micro enterprises. “We are involving SHGs in paddy procurement and milling through capital support from the government, helping them start petrol pumps, giving them contracts for the upkeep of government buildings, etc. We can channel government spending in a manner that generates more economic activity among women,” he said. With budgetary support of ₹6,000 crore, a new scheme will offer ₹4 lakh to eligible youth to start an enterprise. “Five per cent of plots in new industrial parks will be for women, and 15% will be for SC/ST entrepreneurs,”