Congress Party Manifesto – Telangana 2018 Assembly Elections (Text)

PREFACE

 

• Rich tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives to achieve statehood for Telangana

 

• Long Live Father of Telangana Acharya Jayashankar

 

Indian National Congress has a rich and long history of leading the freedom struggle to free the country from slavery of British. It was the Congress party only which granted statehood for Telangana.

 

In order to protect the self-respect and fulfil the aspirations of people, the 135-year-old Indian National Congress has created Telangana State through a legislation on February 20, 2014. Our beloved leader, UPA Chairperson and then Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi and then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh have turned the 60-year-old dream of Telangana State into a reality.

 

Initially, no political party was willing to support the demand for the separate Telangana State. However, the Congress party brought consensus on the issue by highlighting the injustices being done to the people in the region. Despite adverse conditions, Congress party laid a road map for the formation of Telangana and achieved the goal by giving a supreme political sacrifice of facing almost extinction in the residuary Andhra Pradesh State.

 

Congress party always fulfils what it promises to the people. It is KCR who is habitual of blaming the opposition parties for all wrong things to divert people’s attention.

 

KCR has imposed a burden of Rs. 3,000 crore on the people of Telangana by advancing the Assembly elections by nine months without taking the opposition into confidence and without allowing anyone to even question him about their rights. KCR did not fulfil any single major electoral promise including making a Dalit CM, Double Bed Room Houses for poor, 3 acres of land for Dalits, empowerment of women, 1 lakh jobs for youth, drinking water, irrigation facilities for 1 lakh acres in each Assembly constituency, regularisation of contract employees, enhancing quota for STs and Muslim. He rarely stepped into the State Secretariat; Removed Dharna Chowk to suppress people’s right to protest; Smothered democracy on multiple counts; Gave priority to works which brings kickbacks while ignoring welfare and pushed the entire State into huge debts by indulging in wasteful expenditure.

 

Defection of elected representatives from one party to another is anti-Constitutional and undemocratic. However, KCR openly violated the Constitution and encouraged defections at a large scale from Sarpanch to MP levels.

 

 

KCR had demonised people from Seemandhra region living in Telangana during statehood movement. Now he is trying to please the same people of Seemandhra origin to get their votes.

 

We appeal to the Telugu people to understand and realise a few important things.

 

1. Role of Congress party in nation building:

 

Soon after India achieved independence, the entire country was engulfed in issues like slavery, inequality, caste discrimination and other social evils. Poverty and starvation were wide spread. In such a situation, the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal came up with a visionary plan to bring harmony among people belonging to all religions and regions by giving the slogan of Unity in Diversity. It was the Congress party’s vision that ensured national integrity and today is counted among the fastest developing nations. No one can deny the fact that Pandit Nehru was the architect of modern India.

 

With the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, Shri. Lal Bahadur Shashtri gave equal importance to agriculture and the country’s defence. Smt. Indira Gandhi introduced several reforms to eradicate poverty from the country. While Shri. Rajiv Gandhi brought a technology revolution, Shri. P.V. Narasimha Rao introduced economic reforms to boost India’s growth rate. Similarly, Dr. Manmohan Singh has established a transparent and accountable government. Both Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri. Rahul Gandhi has set examples by sacrificing their personal interest in the service of the nation.

 

When India got independence, the nation of 36 crore people was facing shortage of food and starvation. The country used to import food items from other countries. But today, India, a nation of 130 crore, is not only self reliant in food, but it also exports food items to other countries. This is the result of visionary leadership of Pandit Nehru. The then Congress Government established Planning Commission in 1951 to take up focussed development of Industry, Agriculture, Investment, Land Distribution and other works. The Green Revolution initiative by Pandit Nehru took the agriculture sector across the country to a new level. From the stage where India used to import milk, today our country is top in the world in milk production.

 

In order to irrigate the land across the country, need of the irrigation projects was felt and modern projects like Bhakra Nangal, Heerakud, Sri Sailam, Sri Ram Sagar, Nagarjuna Sagar and Jurala were constructed, which were considered Temples of Modern Bharat by Nehru.

 

Hydro Power Plants and Nuclear Power Plants were also established. Congress also worked for bringing India ahead in the fields of Science and Technology by facilitating experiments on rockets.

 

Congress party has facilitated the spread of power across the country where 5,87,000 villages did not have the power earlier. Basic infrastructure of drinking water, roads and healthcare were also provided in the rural areas. The proposal to give free education to the 1.17 crore students of 2.17 lakh schools of the country was presented in the Five Year Plan. New schools were established.

 

Nehru has established many premier institutes like AIMS, Indian Institute of Management and others for imparting quality higher education in the country. Special laws were enacted to stop caste bias in the country. Reservations were provided to ST and SC sections. Plans were prepared for the protection of minorities. India remained non-aligned as part of its foreign policy.

 

When Indira Gandhi was elected president of the Congress party in the year 1959, he rejected it to evade allegations of nepotism. He promoted friendship in diplomacy with neighbouring countries with Punch Sheel policy – a cardinal foreign policy vision which propagates cordial external relations with all the nations. Nehru encouraged Sardar Vallabhai Bhai Patel to merge Nizam state into the Indian Union and safeguard the self respect of the people here.

 

2. Smt. Indira Gandhi Era:

 

The first woman prime minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi was considered to be the iron lady who brought several reforms in the country. She toured the length and breadth of the country covering 36,000 km for 43 days after becoming Congress president in 1959 in order to know the conditions of people. She played a key role in making Lal Bahadur Shastri the second prime minister of India after Nehru. Worked as Minister of Information in Shastri cabinet and introduced several reforms. She introduced 20 point formula and completed the Nagarjuna Sagar project in 1967, started by her father.

 

Enacted Land Sealing Acted and distributed the huge chunk of lands among poor. Nationalised the banks consequently banks also provided loans to the common people. She supported the poor to become entrepreneurs and businessmen to live gracefully. The GareebiHatao slogan was given by Indira Gandhi to provide a respectful livelihood to the poor.

 

She contested from Medak Parliamentary constituency in the year 1980 and established several national institutes and industries like BHEL, BDL, ECIL, IDPL, HMT, NFC, CCMD, and ICRISAT across Hyderabad. In order to provide reservations to STs, a Tribal Sub Plan was introduced in the fifth five year plan. Land ownership was given to small time Tribal farmers.

 

Pokhran Nuclear test has enhanced the stature of India among world leaders during her time.

 

3. Rajiv Gandhi Era:

 

Rajiv Gandhi has steered the country towards Technology and Defense after taking the reins of the country. He laid the foundations of Digital India by bringing reforms in Tele-Communications. He brought major changes in the industrial sector by attracting foreign investment. He stabilised the economic sector in the country. He introduced the National Education Policy in 1986 that resulted in major changes in the education system. Rajiv Gandhi introduced Telecom Limited in the country for the first time.

 

4. Smt. Sonia Gandhi Era under the leadership of Manmohan Singh:

 

Sonia Gandhi has sacrificed for two times despite getting chance of becoming Prime Minister. She pushed forward the renowned economic scholar Manmohan Singh and led the country towards economic development. Employment Guarantee scheme was introduced to provide guaranteed employment for all unemployed rural poor that ensures a better living conditions to the poor.

 

She introduced RTI for transparency in governance, Women Bill for women empowerment, Land Acquisition to strengthen farmers, Housing scheme for poor and other program for the welfare of people.

 

Social security pensions, SarvaSikhsha Abhiyan, National Grameen Mission, and child protection program through ICDS in the country. New power plants were established in the country to meet the power needs.

 

Today power is available in the every nook and corner of the country, thanks to the Dr Manmohan Singh government. The daughter in law of Indira and the widow of Rajiv Gandhi who martyred for the country, Sonia Gandhi has a special place in the hearts of people.

 

She was rated as few of the most powerful women across the world. She played a crucial role in the formation of Telangana state. KCR has also mentioned this very fact in

 

the Assembly House that Sonia Gandhi had made Telangana state possible. KCR along with his family members took Ashirwad of Sonia Gandhi after Telangana was formed. We want to remind this fact to the people once again.

 

5. Role of Congress Party in formation of Telangana

 

What happened before formation of the Telangana, need to be understood. After 1969 Telangana movement, a 39 MLA team under Dr Channa Reddy met Sonia Gandhi on 9 December 1999 presenting a memorandum on Telangana. A sub-committee under Dr Manmohan Singh submitted a report to the BJP led NDA government on this issue which was rejected by BJP.

 

Again, after 10 years, on 9 December 2009, Congress party led UPA stated that it was committed to the formation of Telangana and process was started. However, due to some apprehensions, the process was delayed, but the opinion of all parties were sought to build consensus on the issue. Congress has passed Telangana Bill on 13 February, 2014 in Lok Sabha. It was passed in the Rajya Sabha on 20 February, 2014 as Reorganisation Act. Sonia Gandhi has made this possible and safeguarded the self respect of the Telangana people, however the new state has become a toy in the hands of one family.

 

6. Purpose of Telangana’ People’s desires

 

People of Telangana have struggled for statehood, making Water, resources and employment as the prime agenda points. They struggled for self respect, self governance and self sufficiency. People dreamt of making TS villages fertile. They wanted to use the resources for themselves and provide employment to their children. They understood that all their issues can be resolved only through Telangana.

 

7. KCR Rule

 

People were impressed with the promises of KCR after Telangana formation. However, the past four year TRS rule has pushed the state into debt trap which was Rs 17,000 crore surplus at the time of formation. Today state has Rs 2.20 lakh crore burden of debt and on the brink of bankruptcy. He never provided the basic rights to the people. Removed Dharna Chowk and snatched the basic right to express from people. People of Telangana gave him mandate thinking him the true leader, but he ran the government like a dictator and established his palace on the sacrifices of martyrs. He encouraged nepotism and benefited his relatives.

 

He sabotaged the very purpose of Telangana formation by conspiring against the people. KCR hoodwinked people by promising to provide 24-hour power supply without even producing a single unit power. Farmers are dejected following the neglect by the government since they did not get the MSP as promised. KCR changed the designs of nearly completed irrigation projects started during the Congress regime and benefited contractors, received commissions.

 

Thousands of crores were misused in Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagirata. It was promised that every household will be provided with drinking water and KCR vowed that he would not ask voters for their votes if fails to fulfil this promise. Instead of fulfilling the promise, he dissolved the assembly 9 months earlier.

 

Loan waiver scheme for farmers was not properly implemented and farmers are now debt trapped. About 4,500 farmers have committed suicide owing to the debts. KCR government did not even show any sympathy or empathy with any farmer’s family and now they are claiming to do so many things for farmers.

 

Instead of providing MSP, the KCR government benefited big farmers. He did not fulfil the promise of providing 2 lakh jobs to the unemployed. Lot of irregularities were reported in the purchase of police vehicles. Supported Note Ban and GST by the Modi government and people were deprived of the employment. KCR government did not even spare CMRF and swindled funds.

 

Did not meet opposition leaders and destroyed the spirit of the Constitution. He rarely comes to the Secretariat and Pragathi Bhavan has been used as the defacto CM office and his style of functioning has been very autocratic and confining government to only his four family members. Telangana legendary leader and people’s poet Kaloji Narayan Rao in his famous poem he espouses that, If an outsider deceives, he is sent out and if our own person deceives, he is buried by the people. Today it is the right time to implement this saying by the Kaloji Narayan Rao. The time has come to kick out the TRS government, which ruined the purpose of Telangana struggle.

 

6. Early Polls and KCR

 

The five year term was debunked 9 months earlier because of KCR’s blind beliefs in superstition. After coming to power, he wasted 9 months saying the lack of sufficient staff; later by elections and corporation elections were held. He submitted the letter to the Law Commission on 6 July 2018 endorsing the proposal of parallel elections by PM Narendra Modi. Just two months later, KCR dissolved the State Assembly on 6 September. He tried to show that opposition parties were demanding for early elections.

 

 

Before even people could ask the government on its misrule and injustice, the entire blame was put on the opposition parties. KCR befriended with Modi in Delhi and with MIM in the state. He supported Centre in Note Ban, GST, and Vice President Elections. When adjournment motion against the Modi government was presented in the parliament, TRS disrupted the session.

 

7. Congress party under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi

 

Today India needs a leader like Rahul Gandhi who comes from a family which has given supreme sacrifices for the sake of the country. It is essential for the Congress party to win next election to protect and restore democracy in Telangana. People had a lot of expectations from TRS Government. But except disappointment, humiliation and deception people got nothing in return. The sight of Telangana in control of KCR is creating a feeling of suffocation among common people. The purpose for which Telangana was formed as a separate State has been shattered. Instead of setting a goal for the new State and marching ahead to achieve it, KCR left a bitter taste of dictatorship in his rule for four-and-a-half years.

 

Sensing its responsibility to free the people of Telangana from the dictatorial rule of KCR family, the 133-year-old Congress party has now allied with CPI, a party which has a vast history; TDP, the party which understand social responsibility and the Telangana Jana Samithi, head by Prof. Kodandaram, who led the Telangana movement as the Chairman of Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC). The alliance has been formed to bring freedom for the people of Telangana from the draconian rule of TRS and KCR’s politics of lies, cheating and deception. It is not an alliance of just four political parties, but the collective voice of four crore people of Telangana State.

 

We wish to ensure social justice and provide equal opportunities in a way that all sections of the society get the benefit of a separate State and not just one family. We are seeking your help in getting freedom for Telangana from a man who speaks in different tones before and after getting power. He urges you to teach KCR and TRS a fitting lesson for their lies and attempts to create hatred among people by inciting regional feelings.

 

For the overall growth of the State and comprehensive and integrated development of Telangana, we present to you this manifesto for your approval and acceptance. We are confident that you will give your valuable vote to the Congress party which created Telangana and only this party can bring development. We appeal you to support all the parties in ‘People’s Alliance’ and ensure their victory.

 

Let us join hands to end the corrupt regime of TRS to form a ‘Samajika Telangana’. Strengthen the Congress party and clear the debt we owe to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji for formation of Telangana State.

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

 

1. Good Governance

 

• Chief Minister and all ministers will run the administration only from the Secretariat and they will be always be accessible to people.

 

• RTI Act will be fully implemented. Common people will have total access to all the GOs issued by the government on a real time basis.

 

• Lok Ayukta will be established and Chief Minister, all ministers and other officials will be brought under its purview.

 

• A ‘People’s Grievances Cell’, headed by a senior IAS officer, will be established in the Chief Minister’s Office.

 

• Freedom of Press will be ensured and fully protected

 

• By strengthening Human Rights Commission, an administration that abides by the Constitution will be guaranteed.

 

• The song ‘Jaye Jaye Ho Telangana’ written by poet Andesri will be made the official song of Telangana State.

 

2. Martyrs of Telangana

 

• Telangana Martyrs Memorials will be constructed in all District Headquarters.

 

• Activists of Telangana movement of 1969, 2009 will be identified and rewarded.

 

• For the families of Telangana martyrs of post-2009 agitation, Rs. 10 lakh assistance will be given by District-Incharge Minister with full respect by visiting their house. Those families will also be given pension, Health Card, free Bus Pass and Double Bed Room house.

 

• Measures will be taken to withdraw all cases registered during statehood movement.

 

• Youth who participated in the Telangana movement will be given 50% works in all government contracts.

 

3. Farmers

 

• Crop loans up to Rs. 2 Lakh will be waived off in a single take.

 

• Interest burden on Long Term loans availed by farmers from cooperative sector will be borne by the State Government.

 

• Market Intervention Fund of Rs. 5,000 Crore will be set up

 

• Cropsupport for farmers will be enhanced from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 per acre under ‘Rythulu, KauluRythulu and Rythu Coolie Pathakam’.

 

• Minimum Guaranteed Prices will be given for 17 major crops

 

 

S.No.	CROP	Minimum Guaranteed Price if
		Congress wins elections
1	Paddy (Grade A)	2,000/Quintal
2	Paddy (Common)	2,000/Quintal
3	Cotton (Medium Staple)	6,000/Quintal
4	Cotton (Long Staple)	6,000/Quintal
5	Maize	2,000/Quintal
6	Soyabean	3,500/Quintal
7	Tur (Arhar)	7,000/Quintal
8	Moong	7,000/Quintal
9	Black gram	7,000/Quintal
10	Sugarcane	5000/Quintal
11	Sunflower Seed	5000/Quintal
12	Bajra	2,000/Quintal
13	Jowar (Hybrid)	2,000/Quintal
14	Jowar (Maldandi)	2,000/Quintal
15	Chilli	10,000/Quintal
16	Turmeric	10,000/Quintal
17	Lal Jowar	3,000/Quintal

 

• A separate Agriculture Budget, which was first introduced by the previous Congress regime under erstwhile AP, will be resumed.

 

• Agriculture Department will be converted into Department for Farmers’ Welfare.

 

• Ex-gratia will be given to the families of farmers who committed suicide after formation of Telangana.

 

• Service charges imposed on agriculture pumpsets by TRS Govt will be completely removed

 

4. Youth Welfare/Unemployment

 

• Unemployment Allowances of Rs. 3,000 per month will be given to jobless youth.

 

• A Mega DSC, as per old system, will be held to recruit 20,000 Teachers.

 

• Just like UPSC and SSC, calendar will be released giving entire schedule of recruitments to be made by the State Government in Group-1, Group-2, Group-3, Departmental and other posts.

 

• DSCs will be held on a regular basis. Degree percentage will be given weightage or B.Ed, D.Ed and TET qualified candidates will be given an opportunity to appear for DSC.

 

 

• Justice will be done with B.Ed candidates who qualified in DSC held in 1996, 1998 and 2008.

 

5. Education

 

• 20% of State’s budget will be allocated for education.

 

• Mission 100% Literacy will be pursued.

 

• Fee Reimbursement Scheme will be extended to all eligible students. It will be paid every year in two instalments.

 

• Corporate Education Sector will be regulated by forming a Vigilance Committee comprising of officials from the Education Department, parents, retired judges and police officials.

 

• All public and private schools will have infrastructure like chairs, tables, books, computer lab, library, laboratory, internet, bathrooms, compound wall, drinking water, toilets and playgrounds.

 

6. Health

 

• Under Aarogyasri, free treatment up to Rs 5 Lakh will be provided for all diseases.

 

• A 20-30 bedded hospital will be constructed in each mandal.

 

• In each district, a NIMS-level Super Speciality Hospital and medical college will be established.

 

• A 100-bedded hospital will be constructed in each Assembly segment.

 

• A new building for Osmania Hospital will be constructed on 12 acres of adjacent land. The old building of Nizam’s Era will be preserved.

 

• Aarogyasri Scheme will be reviewed and it will be made more useful for the poor and deserving persons.

 

7. Housing

 

• All eligible families will be given Rs. 5 Lakh assistance for construction of a house on their own land.

 

• For SC, ST families, Rs. 6 Lakh will be given for the construction of their own house.

 

• Dues of Indiramma Housing Scheme will be cleared immediately.

 

• 2 Lakh assistance will be given for construction of another room or other facilities to the beneficiaries of the Indiramma Housing Scheme.

 

• Cement will be provided on subsidised cost for construction of houses for the poor and middle class under the Indiramma Cement Supply Scheme.

 

 

8. Dalits

 

• Will approach the Centre to expedite the process of categorisation of SCs.

 

• Three Special Corporations under the SC Welfare Department will be constituted. One will be for Madigas, one for Malas and another will be for other SC communities.

 

• Mechanism will be set in place for the proper implementation of SC-ST Sub-Plan.

 

• SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act will be strictly implemented.

 

• SC and ST families will be provided free power up to 200 units.

 

 

9. Adivasis/Girijans

 

• Under ST Welfare Department, three corporations will be set up with one for Koya Gond, another for Lambadas and one more for other ST communities.

 

• Required administrative set up will be put in place for effective implementation of SC, ST Sub-Plan.

 

• STs will be given reservation quota in proportionate to their population in the State.

 

• Centre will be pressurised to declare SammakkaSarakkaJatra as National Adivasi Jatra. Teej/Sitla festivals will be recognised as State festivals.

 

10. Minorities Welfare

 

• Sub-Plan for Minorities to allocate and budget in proportionate to population.

 

• Establishment of three finance corporations for Muslims, Christians, Linguistic & Other Minorities

 

• Judicial powers will be given to Wakf Board

 

• Urdu will be strictly implemented as a second official language. All GOs will also be issued in Urdu.

 

• Minority community youth, both skilled and un-skilled, will be provided loans up to Rs. 5 lakhs with 80% subsidy.

 

 

11. Welfare of Workers/Employees

 

• The principle of ‘Equal Pay for Equal Work’, as per the orders of the Supreme Court will be implemented.

 

 

• RTC will be merged into the State Government. RTC employees will be given pay scales on par with government staff. The parents of RTC employees will be extended benefits like pension and free treatment under Aarogyasri.

 

• Automobile and Mechanical labourers will be recognised as unorganised industry and Minimum Wages will be ensured.

 

• Rights of workers employed in commercial institutions, corporate houses, shops, and online marketing will be protected as per Labour Laws.

 

• Manual scavenging will be completely stopped. SafaiKaramchari (cleaning staff) will be given 10% quota in housing schemes.

 

 

12. Welfare of Backward Classes

 

• Three Separate BC Welfare Departments will be set up to provide an equal share in the development of all BC classes

 

• Measures will be taken to introduce a Sub-Plan for Backward Classes with a proper budget.

 

• Resolution will be passed in the state Assembly to force Centre for withdrawal of OBC from the creamy layer

 

• All the 26 castes removed from the list of backward classes by the TRS government will be restored in the B.C. list on priority after the Congress government is formed

 

• Reservations in the distribution of seats in local bodies’ elections under A, B, C, D and E categories will be followed and steps will be taken to ensure reservations are increased for the Backward Classes in proportion to their population

 

 

 

 

13. Economically Backward Classes (EBC)

 

 

• Exclusive E.B.C. Welfare department will be established.

 

• People among the Reddy, Kamma, Vaishya, Brahmin, Velma castes would be brought in the above department and separate corporations will be established for each caste.

 

• All eligible students would get scholarships and fee reimbursement will also be provided.

 

• B.C. students will be given Rs. 25 lakhs scholarships for overseas studies.

 

14. Women Welfare

 

• Financial Assistance of Rs. 1,50,116 will be given for the marriage of poor girls.

 

• All Women SHGs will be given a grant of Rs. 1 lakh each.

 

• Abhay Hastham scheme will be revived and the pension amount will be increased from Rs 500 to Rs.1,000.

 

• Each SHG will be permitted to get a bank loan of Rs. 10 lakh for which the interest will be paid by the government.

 

• Each member of Women SHG would be given free life insurance cover of Rs. 2.5 lakh for natural death and Rs. 5 lakh for accidental death.

 

• Special fund of Rs. 500 Crore will be set up to transform women into industrialists.

 

 

15. Employees Welfare

 

• Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) will be scrapped and Old Pension Method will be restored.

 

• PRC arrears of employees will be released immediately.

 

• A new PRC will be announced and the employees will be given a decent Interim Relief (IR). Compared to previous regimes, a good PRC will be ensured.

 

• Pending transfers will be executed to relieve thousands of employees of mental trauma.

 

• Will bring back Telangana employees working in Andhra Pradesh.

 

• Class-III and Class-IV employees of Telangana working in the Andhra Pradesh State Secretariat will be brought back.

 

 

16. Lawyers Welfare

 

• 300 crores fund for the welfare of Lawyers.

 

• 10 crores grant for Telangana Bar Council on the lines of Tamil Nadu and Kerala Governments.

 

• Newly joined advocated and those are practising regularly will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 5,000.

 

• Land for housing will be allocated for eligible advocates through cooperative societies in the places where court exists and in every district headquarters.

17. Journalists’ Welfare

 

• Housing plots to both working and non-working journalists.

 

• Accidental insurance of Rs. 10 lakh and pension on retirement.

 

 

• Pension amount for widows of journalists will be increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.

 

• Under Working Journalists Act, the journalists working in electronic media will also be brought under its purview.

 

• Land and funds will be allotted for the construction of a building for the Hyderabad Press Club.

 

• Legislation will be done to make the attack on journalists as a non-bailable offence.

 

• Freedom of Press will be guaranteed.

 

 

18. Gulf Migrant Workers/NRIs Welfare

 

• A comprehensive NRI policy will be announced within 100 days of coming to power.

 

• A fund of Rs. 500 Crore will be set up to help the migrant workers.

 

• An ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh will be paid to the families of those workers who die due to various diseases either in the Gulf or after they return to their native place. This will be applicable if death occurs within six months after they return home.

 

• The Gulf migrant workers, who are forced to return home due to ill-health, will get a health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh.

 

• TOMCOM will be removed from the Labour Department and brought under the NRI Corporation.

 

 

19. Children’s Rights & Welfare

 

• All children going to government schools will be given Scholarships of Rs. 300-500.

 

• Bal Bhavan will be constructed in all district headquarters and they will be provided required funds and staff.

 

• A Children’s Academy will be constituted. Right to Education Act will be amended and it will be extended for children between 3-18 years of age.

 

• An Education Commission will be formed to improve the standard of education for children.

 

• Laws will be strictly implemented to end child labour. Services of NGOs will be engaged for the purpose.

 

 

 

20. Physically Handicapped Welfare

 

 

• Financial assistance of Rs. 5 lakh for housing.

 

• Special programmes will be organised on the occasion of Braille Jayanti on January 4 and Helen Keller Jayanti on June 27.

 

• A special residential school will be set up for blind persons.

 

• A separate commission will be set up for physically handicapped persons.

 

• Physically Handicapped Persons will get a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000.

 

• A legislation to prevent abuse or harassment of Physically Handicapped Persons for their disabilities by anyone, on the lines of SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.

 

• They will be entitled to free power supply up to 200 units.

 

 

 

 

21. Transgender/Third Gender

 

• Transgenders will be given Constitutional Rights.

 

• Professional courses to make them enable for self-employment schemes.

 

• Monthly pension of Rs. 3,000.

 

• Houses under Indiramma Housing Scheme.

 

• Loans and other financial assistance to make them live a respectable life.

 

 

22. Senior Citizens

 

• 50% seats in RTC buses will be reserved for Senior Citizens.

 

• Persons of 58 years will be eligible to get pension.

 

• Present pension amount will be increased from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 per month.

 

• All eligible persons in the family will be eligible to get pension.

 

• Implementation of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 by setting up Tribunals in all districts.

 

 

23. Irrigation

 

• Projects which were started during the previous Congress regime will be completed.

 

• B.R. Ambedkar SujalaSravanthiPanahitaChevella project will be revived and a 148-metre barrage will be constructed at Tummadi Hatti to take water through gravity till Yellandu. This will benefit areas in the erstwhile Adilabad district, which are now part of KommaramBheem and Mancherial district.

 

 

• The height of Kaleshwaram Barrage at Medigadda will be raised by 101 Metres to increase the reservoir level by taking support from Maharashtra Government.

 

• Water from Tummadi Hatti will be taken to Yellampalli Barrage by using modern technology to ensure that Telangana farmers get irrigation facilities at low cost.

 

• B.R. Ambedkar PranahitaChevella Project will be extended to benefit the farmers of Ranga Reddy and Chevella.

 

 

24. Industry

 

• 50,000 acres of land will be allocated for the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across the Telangana State.

 

• To attract foreign investments in the present and future SEZs, 100% tax exemptions will be offered to investors.

 

• Establishment of National Investment Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) at Zaheerabad and creation of 1.5 lakh jobs in the next 10 years.

 

• Railway Coach Factory at Qazipet and Steel Plant at Bayyaram will be turned into a reality to provide lakhs of jobs.

 

• Nizam Sugar Factory, IDPL, Reyans, and other sick industries will be revived to create employment opportunities for the youth.

 

 

25. Welfare of Labour

 

• Mechanical labourers will be recognised as unorganised sector and they will be extended the same benefits being given by the Central Government to construction labourers. Minimum wages will be assured to mechanics working in various showrooms.

 

• Rights of workers employed in commercial institutions, corporate houses, shops, and online marketing will be protected as per Labour Laws.

 

• The labourers in unorganised sector will be given Health Insurance of Rs. 5 lakh.

 

• For Auto rickshaw Drivers and Private Drivers, a Transport Workers Welfare Board will be established. They will be provided with training, education and health facilities and their rights will be protected.

 

• Social security will be provided to workers and labourers of the construction industry.

 

• Centres will be established in Hyderabad to impart training in the automobile, mechanic, plumber, drivers, computer operator, mobile repairing, etc., Licence will be issued on the basis of Aadhar for those who are not having any educational qualification.

 

 

26. Welfare of Singareni Workers

 

• About 9,000 workers who were sacked by the TRS Government will be re-instated on compassionate grounds.

 

• Pattas will be issued for housing. Repairs and painting of quarters will be done once in a year.

 

• Free higher education will be given to the children of Singareni employees.

 

• One family member of the employee who is declared unfit in the medical test conducted by the company will be given job.

 

• Under the Mines Act, children of medically unfit employees will be given jobs, even if they are not in service for 24 months.

 

• Family members of Singareni workers will be given jobs and other facilities.

 

• Eligible persons will be given housing loans up to Rs. 15 lakh.

 

 

27. Panchayat Raj

 

• All powers will be divulged to Panchayat Raj and municipal institutions as per the Amendments made in Act 72 and 72 of the Constitution of India.

 

• Vocational Training and Technical Training Centres will be established at all district headquarters to train jobless youth in skills like electrician, para-medic, plumbing, carpenter, security guard, housekeeping, supermarket helper, etc.

 

• RO plants will be installed in all villages to provide safe drinking water.

 

• Regularisation of services of Gram Panchayat staff will be considered.

 

• Merger of DRDA and DWMA with Rural Development Department will be withdrawn and they will be run as separate entities.

 

 

28. GHMC/Urban Development

 

• Housing facility will be provided to those living in slums.

 

• Vendors and road-side traders will be given protection. Hawkers and street vendors will be issued licenses.

 

• Health cards for slum dwellers.

 

• MMTS Phase-II will be started and will be extended from Shankarpally-Bhongir.

 

• Second phase of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project will be completed.

 

• Musi River will be protected by constituting a new authority.

 

• Land allotment for places of worship.

 

• Congress Government will ensure that roads are free of potholes.

 

 

29. Road, Rail Network

 

• Rail and Road Development Corporation under the Transport Ministry will be formed.

 

• A Welfare Board will be established with a fund of Rs. 100 crore.

 

• Efforts will be made to reduce the premium of auto-insurance.

 

• A committee will be formed to study the possibility of getting a new railway line in every district.

 

• Steps will be taken to have a single permit for both Telugu States for cabs and buses.

 

• 24-hour online permit system will be introduced for tour and travel operators.

 

 

 

 

30. Police Welfare

 

• All police personnel will be given compulsory holidays.

 

• Police personnel will undergo medical examination once in 3-6 months.

 

• Counselling and training to improve their interaction with common people.

 

• Issues concerning Traffic policemen will be reviewed once in 6 months.

 

• Steps to clear all pending promotions.

 

 

31. Liquor Policy

 

• All liquor shops and pubs will be regulated as per rules and regulations.

 

• Permit Room and Belt Shops will be controlled.

 

• Toddy will be encouraged so as to provide employment to toddy tappers.

 

• Stern action will be taken against those involved in the sale of Gudamba, adulterated liquor, and drugs.

 

 

32. Sports

 

• Sports will be promoted from KT to PG level.

 

• A residential sports college will be set up in every district.

 

• Scouts, NCC and NSS training will be made compulsory in all government and private educational institutions.

 

• Sports University will be established to promote all forms of sports.

 

 

• Stadiums will be constructed with facilities like gymnastics, gym, swimming pools, and other modern facilities.

 

 

33. Religious Affairs

 

• Free power supply will be given to all temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship.

 

• Funds will be released for repair of temples, mosques, and churches by introducing a proper system.

 

• Survey will be done on the encroachments of land belonging to temples, mosques, and churches and necessary legislation will be done to protect their properties.

 

• Pujaris and staff of 643 temples will be provided accidental insurance.

 

 

34. Folk Artists/Cultural Affairs

 

• Telugu and Urdu Academies will be given funds for promotion of both the languages.

 

• Cultural centres like Ravindra Bharathi will be constructed in Warangal, Adilabad and Nalgonda.

 

• Steps will be taken to promote folk arts like Burra Katha.

 

• As many as 500 artists, who were appointed as Cultural Ambassadors of Telangana, are being paid a monthly honorarium of Rs. 24,514. The Congress Govt will increase this amount and it will be paid through the State Treasury.

 

• A modern recording theatre will be established for the Cultural Ambassadors.

 

• Eligible artists will be given employment in a phased manner.

 

 

35. Tourism

 

• Environmental tourism will be promoted in forest areas of Telangana.

 

• Facilities like bio-toilets, changing rooms and dormitory will be provided at tourist destinations.

 

• Theme Parks will be established in Hyderabad and other districts.

 

• A calendar will be released for the promotion of tourism of State Government.

 

• Sports like Forest Hiking, Rappling (Check), and mountain climbing will be promoted.

 

• Special rules will be framed to promote places of religious importance like Hindu temples, mosques, churches, Buddhist temples, etc.

 

 

 

36. Environment

 

• Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy will be announced to deal with calamities like floods, heat wave, etc.

 

• It will be made compulsory in GHMC limits for new buildings to be constructed as per the norms of the CII Green Building Council (CIIGBC).

 

• Water harvesting system will be mandatory for all commercial and residential buildings.

 

• Electric bike and electric scooter will be provided at all important bus and metro stations.

 

• A new policy will be introduced for 100% electric buses, electric cab, and auto.

 

• 111 will be strictly implemented.

 

 

1. Good Governance

 

Transparency is the key to good governance in a democracy. Every citizen has a right to know the reasons behind the decisions taken by the public representatives and government officials. Secret mode of governance is quite dangerous and against the spirit of Constitutional norms. Except for Defence and other sensitive matters, the administration need not maintain any secrecy over other matters. Keeping the people informed about everything without them seeking it under RTI can be called transparent governance.

 

However, despite the RTI, the TRS Government never maintained transparency in governance. While the previous Congress Government introduced Right to Information Act (RTI), Modi and KCR Governments completely neglected the norms of Good Governance. Both PM Modi and CM KCR behaved like dictators only to protect their self-interest. They failed to provide a government which is transparent, accountable, accessible, and free from irregularities and the one whose policies sync with the people’s views. He never came out of Pragathi Bhavan, never met the people and ran the administration by using ministers and MLAs as mere rubber stamps. In the erstwhile Hyderabad State, the Nizam used to meet people occasionally in the name of Praja Darbar. But KCR has set a bad precedent by making himself totally inaccessible to people. KCR and his son KTR treated Telangana as their personal fiefdom and ruled like dictators.

 

The Congress party, on winning the next elections, will ensure the implementation of the RTI Act and restore the practices of Good Governance. If voted to power, the Congress Government will implement the following programmes:

 

1. The song ‘Jaye Jaye Ho Telangana’ written by poet Andesri will be made the official song of Telangana State.

 

2. The chief minister and all ministers will run the administration only from the Secretariat and they will be always be accessible to people. Praja Darbar will be conducted for two hours every day.

 

3. RTI Act will be fully implemented. Common people will have total access to all the GOs issued by government on a real-time basis.

 

4. Lok Ayukta will be established and Chief Minister, all ministers and other officials will be brought under its purview.

 

5. A ‘People’s Grievances Cell’ will be established in the Chief Minister’s Office. The cell will be headed by a senior IAS officer.

 

6. Freedom of Press will be ensured and fully protected.

 

7. The Human Rights Commission will be strengthened and an administration that abides by the Constitution will be guaranteed.

 

8. The reoganisation of districts, which was done in a meaningless manner, will be reviewed. If required, the number of districts will be reduced to cut down the burden on the public exchequer.

 

9. The official abbreviation of Telangana will be changed from “TS” to “TG”.
10. The logo of the Telangana Government will be redesigned to reflect the democratic spirit and sacrifices made by martyrs.

 

11. Approval will be given for the official statue of ‘Telangana Talli’ which will portray common women. The statue will be installed in all government offices.

 

12. A White Paper will be issued on the loans taken by the TRS Government since 2014. People will be enlightened on how the revenue-surplus Telangana was turned into a debt-ridden State. Another White Paper on economic status will be issued after the end of the tenure of our government.

 

13. All laws will be framed based on the views and suggestions of common people.

 

14. Efforts will be made for early disposal of pending cases in various courts. If required, more number of courts will be established.

 

15. There will be complete Freedom of Speech and everyone will have a right to express his/her views.

 

16. A new system will be introduced in all government offices wherein all applications submitted by the people for various services would be given proper Acknowledgement on the lines of FIR issued in police stations. The status of action taken by MRO, RDO or Collector on applications will be tracked and monitored.

 

17. Legislative Assembly will be run for at least 70 days in a year.
18. Panchayat Raj institutions and Municipal bodies will be given full powers and required funds as per the provisions of Article 73 & 74 Amendment Acts.

 

19. A toll-free number and an email address will be given to people to report cases of corruption and irregularities. Unlike the TRS Government, which cheated the people by giving a non-functional number to receive complaints of corruption, the Congress Government will receive all complaints and act on them.

 

20. Women and all communities will be given adequate representation in the cabinet.

 

21. The status of action taken on complaints received from the public will be immediately placed on an exclusive website ‘Corruption Free Telangana’.

 

22. Bio-Metric system will be introduced in all government offices to ensure full attendance of employees.

 

23. ‘Dharna Chowk’ will be restored as the venue to stage protests. Steps will be taken to bring total transparency in all departments of the State Government.

 

24. Transparency will be maintained in the purchase of energy and all Power Purchase Agreements will be kept in the public domain.

 

25. The victims of land acquisition will be properly rehabilitated and compensated as per the provision of the Land Acquisition Act 2013.

 

26. Measures will be taken to curb adulteration of essential commodities and the law will be strictly implemented.

 

27. Stern action will be taken against the hotels and food outlets involved in adulteration. The strength of Food Inspectors will be increased. The Consumer Act will be implemented properly.

 

28. Petrol & Diesel prices will be reduced by rolling back the exorbitant taxes imposed by the TRS Government to reduce the burden on the common man.

 

29. 5 /Meal Scheme launched by the previous Congress Government will be resumed as ‘Soniamma Canteen’ and extended to all districts, mandals, tourist spots and other public places and industrial areas.

 

30. A Service Level Agreement (SLA) will be implemented to analyse the performance of all officials in all the departments and a metric monitoring system will be applied to bring transparency and accountability in their functioning.

 

31. Effective measures will be taken to ensure that the sustainable development goals prescribed by UNDP are achieved.

 

 

2. Telangana Martyrs

 

Telangana State became a reality due to the selfless struggle and sacrifices made by the martyrs and other activists. Students, youth and others participated in the statehood movement without fear lathi-charge, bullets or cases to fulfil the aspirations of 4 crore people of Telangana. More than 1500 people laid down their lives to bring freedom and self-rule for 4 crore people of Telangana. We owe a lot to the martyrs and others who participated in the movement. As against 1500 people who laid down their lives, the TRS Government identified only 400 martyrs and the help extended to them was only symbolic in nature. Other families were completely ignored.

 

The Congress party promises all assistance to the families of Telangana martyrs.

 

1. Telangana Martyrs Memorials will be constructed in all District Headquarters.
2. Activists who participated in the Telangana movement of 1969 and post-2009 will be duly identified and they would be properly rewarded.

 

3. For the martyrs of Telangana who laid down their lives since 2009, the government will provide Rs. 10 lakh special assistance to their families. The District-Incharge Minister will personally visit the houses of those families and hand over the amount with full respect. The families of Telangana martyrs will also be given pension, Health Card, free Bus Pass and Double Bed Room house.

 

4. Serious measures will be taken to withdraw all cases registered during statehood movement.

 

5. The youth, belonging to SC and ST communities, who participated in the Telangana movement will be given 50% works in all government contracts.

 

6. Telangana protagonists who participated in 1969 movement will be given Pension, Health Card, Free Bus Pass, Double Bed Room house or financial assistance for construction of their own house and a government job to one member of their family.

 

7. A memorial will be constructed at Necklace Road for the martyrs of the 1969 movement.

 

 

3. Farmers, Agriculture, and Allied Sector

 

After the formation of Telangana, under the worst rule of KCR, farmers have suffered crop losses due to drought, unseasonal rains, and other factors. Debts drove over 4,500 farmers to suicide. Neither farmers got any help nor the families of farmers who committed suicide got any compensation. While the

 

farmers are crying tears of blood, TRS Government came up RythuBandhu scheme in view of the elections. But this scheme too has benefitted the landlords and rich farmers. Small and marginal farmers did not benefit from the scheme. Tenant farmers remained empty-handed. TRS Government played a big political game in the name of Farmers Coordination Samithis.

 

Almost 62% of the population in Telangana are dependent on agriculture and about 82% of farmers fall into the small and marginal category. Nearly 16 lakh Tenant Farmers belong to the weaker sections.

 

The performance of a government in India is judged by the level of satisfaction and happiness among farmers. Regrettably, farmers have faced immense difficulties during the last four-and-a -half years. The wrong and anti-farmer policies of KCR Government have badly hurt the agricultural growth to the extent that Telangana is now among the worst performing States among 29 States in the country. Compared to 2014, there has been a decline in food grain productions by 12 Lakh Tonnes in 2018. There has been a significant decrease in the income of farmers. While the MSPs had witnessed an increase of 13% from 2009 to 2014, the increase from 2015-2018 was just 6%. A majority of farmers were unable to even recover the input cost and consequently, booked huge losses. Those trapped in huge debts committed suicide. Farmers, who protested demanding remunerative prices for their produce, were implicated in false cases on charges like treason, arrested, jailed, handcuffed and chained.

 

Farmers have played an important role in the formation of Telangana and it will be the moral duty of the next Congress Government to provide them necessary relief and assistance. We will come up with a comprehensive agriculture policy and ensure its proper and effective implementation.

 

1. Crop loans up to Rs. 2 Lakh will be waived off in a single take.
2. The interest burden on Long Term loans availed by farmers from the cooperativesector will be borne by the State Government.

 

3. A Market Intervention Fund of Rs. 5,000 Crore will be set up.
4. Cropsupport for farmers will be enhanced from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 per acre under ‘Rythulu, KauluRythuluandRythu Coolie Pathakam’.

 

5. Minimum Guaranteed Prices will be given for 17 major crops.

 

S.No.    CROP   Minimum Guaranteed Price if Congress wins elections

1	Paddy (Grade A)	2,000/Quintal
2	Paddy (Common)	2,000/Quintal
3	Cotton (Medium Staple)  6,000/Quintal

 

4	Cotton (Long Staple)  6,000/Quintal
5	Maize  2,000/Quintal
6	Soyabean  3,500/Quintal

• Tur (Arhar) 7,000/Quintal
• Moong 7,000/Quintal
• Black gram 7,000/Quintal
• Sugarcane 5000/Quintal
• Sunflower Seed 5000/Quintal

 

• Bajra 2,000/Quintal
• Jowar (Hybrid) 2,000/Quintal
• Jowar (Maldandi) 2,000/Quintal
• Chilli 10,000/Quintal
• Turmeric 10,000/Quintal
• Lal Jowar 3,000/Quintal

 

 

6. The practice of having a separate Agriculture Budget, which was first introduced by the previous Congress regime under erstwhile AP, will be resumed.

 

7. Agriculture Department will be converted into Department for Farmers’ Welfare.
8. Ex-gratia will be given to the families of farmers who committed suicide after the formation of Telangana.

 

9. The service charges, amounting to Rs. 83 Crore, imposed on agricultural pump sets by the TRS Government will be completely removed.

 

10. An exclusive Mobile App will be created to educate farmers on various aspects of agriculture.

 

11. At least 20% of the overall annual budget will be allocated for Agriculture Budget.

 

12. Free quality power will be supplied to the farm sector. Steps will be taken to promote Solar Pump Sets.

 

13. Sericulture will be the given the status of Special Industry and will be given various incentives.

 

14. Soil Testing Centres will be set up in all Mandal headquarters. Various agricultural practices will be implemented to encourage environment and soil-based farming.

 

15. GST will be removed from Agriculture Equipment, Units, Material, Fertilizers and other tools used in irrigation.

 

16. Organic farming will be encouraged to protect the environment by providing the subsidy to farmers.

 

17. Availability of Lightweight equipment, machinery and warehouses will be made available at all Mandal headquarters.

 

18. Fertilizers, Pesticides will be made available online and steps will be taken to display their prices in the offices of Mandals and Gram Panchayats.

 

19. Agro-based industries will be promoted on a large scale.
20. Horticulture will be encouraged by giving various incentives.
21. Agriculture Centres will be established in all the districts through Agriculture University and Agriculture Department to help the farmers.

 

22. Efforts will be made to link NREGS with the agriculture sector.
23. An Integrated Seed Act will be enacted. Telangana will be turned into a Seed Hub by strengthening Seed Testing Centres in all districts.

 

24. State Government will pay the entire premium for Crop Insurance Scheme.
25. The Telangana State Agriculture Commission, on the lines of Human Rights Commission, will be established. Incidents of farmers’ suicides will be brought under the purview of this commission.

 

26. The Money Lending Act will be implemented to prevent the farmers from the menace of private money lenders.

 

27. After conducting soil and environmental tests, Agricultural Counselling will be provided on a large scale to educate farmers on which crop was suitable for their land.

 

28. Life Insurance will be given to agricultural labourers.
29. Nizam Sugar Factory, which is considered an important heritage of Telangana, will be revived. Sugarcane farming will be brought in the jurisdiction of the Agriculture Department. Sugarcane farmers and jaggery makers will be encouraged.

 

30. Crop loan amount will be increased. Farmers will be given representation in the Scale of Finance Committees in all districts.

 

31. Food grain production will be given massive expansion. Steps will be taken to encourage farmers to grow food grains.

 

32. Measures will be taken to eradicate the menace of wild bores, monkeys and other animals who cause huge damage to standing crops. Farmers Associations will be formed and the Wild Boar Policy will be implemented on the lines of policies being adopted by States like Punjab.

 

33. Procurement Centres for the purchase of food grains and commercial crops will be established at places closer to farmlands.

 

34. Laws will be strictly implemented to prevent the role agents and brokers in Agricultural Markets.

 

35. Compensation for loss of crops due to the natural disaster will be ensured in the shortest possible time by conducting surveys without any delay.

 

36. Steps will be taken for the protection of crops from wildlife, especially the pig farming system to protect food crops from pigs and monkeys.

 

37. Adequate compensation will be paid to farmers who lose their land due to High Tension Line.

 

38. Facilities will be provided for collective drying of crops.
39. State-level Turmeric Board will be established.
40. Mini-tractors will be given to small and marginal farmers on subsidy.
41. Compensation will be paid if a farmer or his/her family member dies due to electrocution, lightening, use of pesticide, snake bite, etc., in their agriculture field.

 

42. Godowns and Cold Storages will be established in rural and cluster levels.
43. Subsidised power will be provided to farmers who set up godowns and cold storages or processing units.

 

44. A ‘Millet Mission’ will be launched to promote cultivation of dry crops and millets in rain-fed areas.

 

45. An exclusive TV channel will be started for the agriculture sector. A mobile App will also be launched to educate farmers on various aspects of farming.

 

46. Planting of Toddy, palm and bamboo trees will be encouraged.
47. Measures will be taken to promote Drip Irrigation Methods.
48. To promote the production of milk, dairy farmers will be provided loans and subsidy will be provided for the purchase of buffalos and other milching animals. Women farmers will be given priority.

 

50. State Government will purchase milk at prices profitable for dairy farmers.
51. Farmer couples who own land will also be eligible to get Old Age Pension. Farmer’s families who are dependent on single women, widows and women will be empowered through welfare schemes.

 

52. Dairy farming, pig breeding, poultry farming, fisheries, etc., will be equally encouraged.

 

53. Agriculture Information Extended Centres will be established in rural areas to create awareness on the importance of Food Habits, Crop Colony, Crop Diversity, and Nutritious Food.

 

54. Agriculture University will be strengthened and its affiliated Satellite Centres will be established in all districts to promote research. Agriculture Extension Officers will be linked with these centres. The AEOs will work only to provide agriculture-related information to farmers and they will not be engaged in any other work.

 

55. Agriculture University will be established in North Telangana, especially Warangal or Jagtial.

 

56. All false cases registered by TRS Govt against the chilly farmers of Khammam will be withdrawn.

 

57. Birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi on 19th November will be celebrated as Farmers’ Day by conducting various programmes every year.

 

LAND RECORDS, SURVEY, AND RIGHTS

 

1. Several new problems have cropped up during the verification of records in the name of Land Survey. Agriculture Land Survey Settlement will be done in a scientific and glitch-free manner across the Telangana State by identifying the land based on information provided in the Pattadar Passbook. This will be done in a totally transparent and scientific manner by engaging the services of agencies like Survey of India.

 

2. Land Academy will be established.
3. Recognition of Forest Act 2006 will be strictly implemented to promote education and research on Forest Rights.

 

4. Land Acquisition Act 2013 will be strictly implemented.
5. A comprehensive enquiry will be ordered into the land acquisitions done by the TRS Govt through the Land Acquisition Act 2017 (Act No. 21/2017) to restore farmers’ rights on their lands.

 

6. Jamabandi system will be reviewed. Land disputes will be resolved at Tahsildar level with farmers spending not a single paisa. Comprehensive Land Records will be placed in the public domain.

 

7. Land Administration System will be strengthened.

 

Agriculture Issues under the Central Government:

 

1. Amendments will be made in Pradhan Mantri FasalBeemaYojna to ensure immediate settlement of claims for crop loss. The crop insurance premium amount will be paid by the Central Government.

 

2. Steps will be taken to ensure that besides the Centre, States also gets powers to decide the Minimum Support Prices.

 

3. Central Government will be pressurised to link NREGS with the agriculture sector. Rights of agricultural workers will be protected.

 

4. Pesticides will be regulated through the enactment of a law.

 

Dairy & Cattle:

 

1. All farmers will be supplied seeds of fodder grass and bulk cultivation of fodder grass will be promoted.

 

2. Vacant posts of Veterinary Assistant Professors will be filled not only through TSPSC, but also through DSC (Departmental Selection Commission).

 

3. Veterinary Services will be improved in all rural habitations by linking Veterinary University and Animal Husbandry Department. The premium for livestock insurance will be borne by the government.

 

4. Women dairy farmers will be encouraged. Women associations will be provided milching animals at free of cost to promote the production of milk.

 

5. Poultry farmers will be given TMR Subsidy

 

6. Rural Veterinary Centers will be upgraded to full-fledged Veterinary Clinics.

 

4. YOUTH/UNEMPLOYED

 

Trusting KCR’s word that lakhs of jobs will be created on the formation of his government, youth has voted for TRS in the last elections. However, KCR only brought disappointment for jobless youth. While jobless youth waited for four years, KCR took top posts for four members of his family. KCR had promised one job for each household besides filling one Lakh vacancies in government departments. He repeated the promise multiple times in different public meetings during elections. He also gave the assurance of filling up one Lakh vacancies on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. But KCR never honoured his words. The TRS president had promised to regularise the services of contract employees and had even vowed to erase the word ‘contract’ from employment permanently. But he cheated everyone.

 

Students of Osmania University and Kakatiya University were lathicharged when they held a protest seeking jobs for youth. When opposition raised the issue of appointment of teachers in the Assembly, KCR announced the formation of DSC. However, only notifications were issued through TSPSC and when candidates approached the courts for various reasons, KCR blamed the opposition parties to cover up his failures.

 

Today Telangana is on the bottom in the list of States in providing jobs. As against the hype being created on Telangana being the Number 1 State, Telangana ranks third in unemployment. No efforts were made to create self-employment opportunities. Funds meant for Skill Development were misused. Instead of making regular appointments in newly created districts, the administration is being run through Incharges. No genuine attempt was made to create jobs in the private sector by supporting industrialisation.

 

The Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) was approved during the previous Congress regime. However, it remained a non-starter due to the failure of the TRS Government in getting required funds from the Centre. This led to the loss of lakhs of new jobs.

 

In order to do justice with unemployed youth, Congress party promises to do the following things if it is voted to power:

 

1. Unemployment Allowances of Rs. 3,000 per month will be given to at least 10 Lakh jobless youth.

 

2. A Mega DSC will be conducted within 100 days of coming to power to recruit 20,000 Teachers. The DSC will be conducted as per the old system.

 

3. A calendar will be released giving entire schedule of recruitments to be made by the State Government in Group-1, Group-2, Group-3, Departmental and other posts. This will be done on the lines of UPSC and SSC.

 

4. One Lakh vacancies in various departments will be filled within one year of formation of the government.

 

5. DSCs will be held on a regular basis. Degree percentage will be given weightage or B.Ed, D.Ed and TET qualified candidates will be given an opportunity to appear for DSC.

 

6. A decision will be taken to give justice to the B.Ed candidates who qualified in DSC held in 1996, 1998 and 2008.

 

7. At least 80% reservation will be given to local candidates in the industries being established in rural areas.

 

8. Mandal Education Officers (MEOs), who play an important role in School Education, will be appointed immediately.

 

9. Youth will be motivated to adopt modern agriculture as a profession. They will be provided with training, subsidy on equipment and other necessary resources to take up modern agriculture.

 

10. Reservation will be implemented in jobs being provided by government-aided private educational institutions.

 

11. Continuance of interview system for appointments on Group-3 and Group-4 posts will be reviewed.

 

12. Those who retire from government service will not be given an extension.
13. Free coaching centres will be established in all Assembly segments.
14. Study Circles with well-equipped libraries and computer training centre will be established in all district headquarters to provide free coaching to youth for various competitive exams.

 

15. Examination Fee for various recruitment exams conducted by the TSPSC will be reduced. Candidates will be given the free bus facility to reach/return from his/her examination centre.

 

16. For youths who propose to start their own business, loans will be provided at 25 paise interest rate.

 

17. A Physical Education Teacher (PET) will be appointed in every school. The vacant posts of Physical Directors in all Junior and Degree Colleges and Universities will be filled through direct recruitment.

 

18. All vacant posts in Government Libraries will be filled on proper pay scales. Steps will be taken to give present staff salaries on ‘Equal Work – Equal Pay’ basis.

 

19. Youth Centres will be established in all villages and Mandals. They will be linked with Nehru YuvaKendrams to impart coaching on Personality Development, Health & Fitness, Yoga and Gym. Awareness will be created on Skill Building and

 

Self Employment Opportunities. Eminent personalities from the corporate world and other professionals will be engaged as Resource Persons to deliver motivational lectures on issues like Disaster Management, eradication of Child Labour, Leadership Abilities, Constitutional Rights and other issues so as to create better citizens of the future.

 

20. Vacant posts of Teachers in Government Schools and Lecturers in Junior and Degree Colleges and Universities will be filled immediately. It will be ensured that if any post fall vacant is filled in the same academic year.

 

21. All contract teachers and lecturers, working in government schools, junior and degree colleges and universities, will be regularised as per their the Rules.

 

22. Nehru YuvaKendras will be involved in the process to plan the development of rural and urban areas.

 

23. A Vocational, Skill Development and Employment University will be established to seek a permanent solution for the problem of unemployment in Telangana State. University’s affiliated free residential centres will be established at District, Mandal and Assembly level. Nearly 15-20 Lakh youth will be trained in various skills like handicraft, automobile, environmental engineering, electrician, etc.,) to enable them in taking up self-employment.

 

24. Certificate courses of 6-12 month duration will be conducted.
25. Industrial Fairs will be conducted to provide placement opportunities for eligible youth.

 

26. Youth will be provided loans through banks for self-employment schemes. Skill Development centres will be started by involving the managements of engineering and pharmacy colleges which were shut down.

 

27. Youth Associations, NGOs, credible private educational institutions will also be made as stakeholders in this drive.

 

28. ITIR project will be revived to create lakhs of jobs in IT Sector. Hyderabad will be promoted as IT and Electronics Hub to boost employment opportunities.

 

 

5. EDUCATION:

 

Injustice in the education system in Telangana was a major issue during the separate statehood movement. Whatever are the reasons, the literacy rate in Telangana is just 66% and for women, it is a mere 58%. No society can progress without giving importance to the education and health sectors. However, the TRS Government launched schemes that benefited contractors while neglecting the programmes which could have benefited the society at large.

 

From 2014-15 to 2016-17, an amount of Rs. 960 crore was allocated for School Education. Of this, only Rs. 222 crore was actually spent and the remaining

 

amount was diverted for other purposes. Similarly from 2014-2017, of Rs. 4,709 crore allocated for Collegiate Education, only Rs. 3,300 crores were spent and 30% of funds were diverted. Similarly, the Fee Reimbursement Scheme was totally ignored. Of Rs. 4,495 crore allocated from 2014-2018, only Rs. 2,043 crores were spent and rest 40% amount was diverted.

 

Despite making claims that Telangana was the richest State, education sector was kept in a state of neglect. While 19 other States in the country were spending an average of 16.1% of the budget on education, Telangana has spent just 8% budget.

 

More than 4,500 schools have been closed, citing lack of admissions as the reason. This led to an increase in the number of private schools by 10-13%. The intake of students in Government Primary Schools has decreased by 1.12 Lakh (7.65%). In private schools, the number of students has increased by 0.61 Lakh (3.67%). Almost 30% of students from 7th to 10th Class have dropped out of schools. About 50% of them are STs.

 

The education sector has suffered a huge damage under the TRS rule. Therefore, the next Congress Government will implement the following programmes to revive the education sector:

 

1. 20% of the State’s budget will be allocated for education.
2. Mission 100% Literacy will be pursued.
3. Fee Reimbursement Scheme will be extended for all eligible students. It will be paid every year in two instalments.

 

4. Corporate Education Sector will be regulated by forming a Vigilance Committee comprising of officials from the Education Department, parents, retired judges and police officials. The committee will conduct timely reviews on Education Policies, Standard of Education and other related issues.

 

5. Steps will be taken to provide infrastructure like chairs, tables, books, computer lab, library, laboratory, internet, bathrooms, compound wall, drinking water, toilets and playgrounds in all government and private educational institutions from KG to PG.

 

6. 25 Lakh assistance will be given to students belonging to SC, ST, Minorities, OBC and other economically weaker sections for pursuing overseas education.

 

7. Innovative means will be explored to create self-employment opportunities for poor and middle-class students through Vocational Skill Development and Employment University.

 

8. Smart Classrooms will be established in all government educational institutions. Education will be imparted using Satellite Technology and modern methods. They will be linked with the National Knowledge Network.

 

9. Fee in corporate and private educational institutions will be regulated by forming District Fee Regulatory Committee, which will have parents as its members.

 

10. Scholarship amounts will be increased on par with inflation and other factors. All eligible students will be given Scholarships.

 

11. Interest amount will be waived for the bright students who have taken education loans for overseas studies.

 

12. Students pursuing professional courses will be given total Fee Reimbursement without any conditions.

 

13. Government Schools which were closed by the TRS Govt will be re-opened and children who dropped out will be brought back to schools.

 

14. Mandal Educational Officers (MEOs) will be appointed on an immediate basis.
15. Wifi Digital Education system will be introduced in all government and private educational institutions. All students will be trained in basic MS Office and internet technology.

 

16. Central Act pertaining to Physically Handicapped Children will be strictly implemented.

 

17. Power Supply to private educational institutions will be given on domestic tariff. Steps will be taken to regularise the buildings of educational institutions.

 

18. Relief will be provided to institutions which were abruptly closed by the TRS Government.

 

19. Muslim, Christian and Linguistic Minority Institutions will be promoted.
20. PETs will be appointed in every school. Besides regular sports, Yoga will also be introduced in all schools.

 

21. Institutions which got UGC permission for other States will not be allowed to run branches or Study Centres in Telangana.

 

22. TRS Government has misused Rs. 1,110 crore collected by GHMC towards Library Tax. This amount will be used to establish new libraries and develop existing libraries.

 

23. All vacant posts in Government Libraries will be filled. Libraries will be provided basic amenities like bathroom, furniture, computer, digital library and Wi-Fi.

 

24. Adequate funds will be allocated in the Education Budget for libraries.
25. A PET will be appointed in each school. Besides physical education, Yoga will also be introduced.

 

26. Government Libraries will be set up in all villages and every ward in urban areas by involving youth associations.

 

27. Personality Development, Leadership Abilities and Psychological Education will be given prominence in all government and private schools. Further, students will be trained in subjects like Health, Mental Growth, Yoga and Medication.

 

28. Study Circles with Libraries and Computer Labs will be established in all District Headquarters to train students for competitive examinations.

 

29. Regularisation of services of staff working for Central schemes like Sakshar Bharat, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan will be reviewed and considered.

 

30. Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff working with private schools, junior, Degree and professional colleges will be issued Identity Cards. Legislation will be introduced to ensure 12-month salary, job security, Gratuity, Health Insurance up to Rs. 5 and ‘Equal Work – Equal Pay’ will be ensured. Holidays, as per government rules, will be implemented in private institutions.

 

31. Sufficient funds will be provided to all the State Universities and they will be strengthened with the recruitment of required staff. Private universities will not be permitted in Telangana State.

 

PRIMARY EDUCATION

 

1. Scholarship of Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 will be given to children studying in government schools.

 

2. Right To Education Act will be fully implemented to provide 25% reservation to poor students in private and corporate schools and give them free education. A Parents Committee will be constituted in every school to review performance, educational standards and norms for fee.

 

3. Bhavita Centres, which are working education of physically handicapped children under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, will be converted into special residential centres and those working there will be given job security.

 

4. Girls will be trained in Karate, Taekwondo and other martial art forms for self-defence.

 

5. Free sanitary napkins will be provided to girls in schools.
6. Efforts will be made to establish three more Sainik Schools in Telangana State.
7. Measures will be taken to improve basic amenities in all welfare hostels where students belonging to poor and middle-class study. Each student will be provided with a chair, table, bed, nutritious food, safe food and drinking water, clean bathrooms. Every hostel will also be given a computer center, TV hall, newspaper and library facility. Training will be provided for personal development and physical development. The amount spent daily on the students will be increased according to the growing needs.

 

8. School dropouts will be given special coaching and encouraged to appear for SCC through open examination method.

 

9. Reasons leading to school dropouts will be studied and appropriate steps will be taken to prevent dropouts.

 

10. Vidya Volunteers with basic minimum qualification and talent will be given preference in DSC recruitment.

 

11. Students will be provided with free books, notebooks, uniform, four-pair shoes. In addition to lunch, they will be given morning breakfast and milk in the evening and they will be sent home after completing their home works.

 

12. Model Schools and Kasturba Balika Vidyalayas will be strengthened.

 

 

Intermediate, Technical and Higher Education

 

1. Strict action will be taken against Institutions which are operating in violation of the rules and regulations of the Boards of Intermediate and SSC. A vigil will be kept on charging exorbitant fee by the private institutions.

 

2. Junior colleges will be set up on Mandal headquarters, which do not have junior colleges.

 

3. In addition to education, to promote employment opportunities, Vocational Courses will also be started at Degree level.

 

4. The current ITI will be converted to Industrial Training, Skill Development College (ITSDC) and will be linked with the Vocational Skill Development University.

 

5. In each Assembly constituency, ITI and Polytechnic Colleges will be established to introduce appropriate courses that suit the requirement of the industries. Further, the ITI, Polytechnic and local engineering colleges will be transformed into training centres to create skills among unemployed youth from the funding of the Central and State Governments. Through this, students will be provided with employment opportunities.

 

6. Two IITs will be established in the State to provide standard and quality engineering education.

 

7. A Women University, Tribal University and Mining University will be set up at the State level. The Block Grant given to the universities will be increased by 15%. Government universities will be strengthened and Private Universities Act will be repealed.

 

8. Administrative Committees will be formed in all universities and Vice Chancellors will be appointed without any delay.

 

9. Immediate steps will be taken to prevent the illegal encroachment of land belonging to various universities, colleges and schools.

 

10. As per the recommendations of JM Lyngdoh Committee, elections will be held in all universities and degree colleges every year in a democratic manner.

 

11. With the participation of international universities, students will be provided education of international standards.

 

12. Grants for Aided Colleges will be revived and the Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff will be provided job security and pay scales on ‘Equal Work – Equal Pay’ basis.

 

13. Job security and pay scales will be provided to the Teaching and Non-Teaching staff of Self Financing Courses in various educational institutions. Their basic minimum rights will be protected.

 

14. Degree College for Women and Government Engineering College will be set up in every district.

 

 

6. Health

 

It is the duty of the government to protect public health and provide standard medical services. It is highly regrettable that just like the education segment, the entire health sector has gone into the hands of private parties. This has turned the noble profession into a commercial activity with common people being subjected to organised loot and exploitation.

 

After the formation of Telangana, KCR Government made several tall claims on improving medical services and kept the people in the dark. The deteriorating condition of public health in Telangana can be gauged from the fact that the mortality rate in the famous Gandhi Hospital is more than 20 patients per day. There are not enough number of qualified doctors in Osmania, NIMS and Niloufer Hospitals. Medical services are being run with only 50% of the nursing staff.

 

In the 2014 elections, KCR had promised to set up a Superior Security Hospital at every district headquarter. He had also promised a 30-bedded hospital with 4 doctors at Mandal Headquarters and 100-bedded area hospital in each Assembly segment. He had also promised to introduce Helicopter Ambulance Services in Tribal areas. However, none of these promises have been fulfilled and proved hollow.

 

In the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh, 108 and 104 ambulance services were introduced. Hundreds of lives were saved due to these services in the last so many years. But, due to the negligent attitude of TRS Government, 108 Ambulances are now parked in garages. The staff of these services is forced to live in penury.

 

The spending on public health by the TRS Government was quite pathetic and inhuman. Of Rs. 20,884 crore allocated from 2014-2018, only Rs. 13,463 Crore and a whopping 36% funds, meant for public health, were diverted for other purposes. Doctors, nurses and other medical staff, who played an active role in the statehood movement, only faced disappointment under TRS rule. The standard medical services have hit an all-time low.

 

The next Congress Government will come up a comprehensive Public Health Policy to bring a much-needed turn around by implementing the following promises:

 

1. Under Aarogyasri, free treatment up to Rs 5 Lakh will be provided for all diseases.

 

2. A 20-30 bedded hospital will be constructed in each Mandal.
3. A 100-bedded hospital will be constructed in each Assembly segment.
4. In each district, a NIMS-level Super Speciality Hospital and medical college will be established.

 

5. The Chest Hospital at Erragadda will be upgraded to 1000-bedded hospital besides having a medical college.

 

6. Aarogyasri Scheme will be reviewed and it will be made more useful for the poor and deserving persons.

 

7. A new building for Osmania Hospital will be constructed on 12 acres of adjacent land. The old building of Nizam’s Era will be preserved.

 

8. Emergency Trauma Centers will be set up on the outskirts of Hyderabad. These centres will have the facility of CT Scan/MRI.

 

9. All dues of Aarogyasri Scheme will be cleared.
10. The emergency 108 and 104 ambulance services will be restored as they were in the past. Qualified doctors will be deployed for ambulance. The problems being faced by 108 and 104 employees will be solved and the services of eligible qualified persons will be regularised.

 

11. Maternity and Children’s hospital like Niloufer Hospital will be started in all Assembly segments. Gynecologist, Pediatricians, Anesthesiologist and specialists will be appointed besides deputing nursing staff.

 

12. ESI Hospitals will be upgraded and employees, workers and labourers of unorganized sector will be provided free treatment.

 

13. Semi-autonomous medical colleges, located in Mahabubnagar, Siddipet, Nalgonda, Suryapet and Adilabad, will be converted into medical colleges.

 

14. In order to prevent privatisation of the health sector, the government hospitals will be allocated more funds to improve the services.

 

15. Telangana State Medical Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMIDC), which has become a synonym for irregularities, will be scrapped. The Superintendents of hospitals will be given the powers which are now being executed by TSMIDC.

 

16. Medical Vigilance Wing will be set up to check corruption and irregularities in teaching and non-teaching hospitals.

 

17. Patients suffering from spinal cord diseases will be given financial assistance. They will also be given battery wheelchair, tri-cycle. Physiotherapy will be brought under the purview of Aarogyasri.

 

18. Steps will be taken to provide nutritional food to children and pregnant women in rural areas.

 

19. A governmental dental hospital will be set up in each Assembly constituency and dental doctors will be recruited. Trade License Fee will be cancelled for private dental hospitals. Posts in governmental dental hospitals will be increased. Small dental clinics will also be brought in the purview of Aarogyasri. Subsidy will be

 

given for purchase of Dental equipment and dentists will be provided an interest-free loan.

 

20. Directorate of Medical Education (Dental) will be specially established.
21. Eligible RMP and PMP doctors will be given three-month vocational training or internship in First Aid. They will be paid a monthly honorarium of Rs. 3,000. Annual sessions will be conducted to enlighten RMP and PMP on modern medicine.

 

22. Steps will be taken to improve medical facilities in PHCs located Tribal areas and Tandas.

 

23. For kidney patients, under Aarogyasri, single-use catheter will be used at Dialysis Centres. For critically ill patients, medicines will be provided at free of cost or at nominal rates. A Nephrologist will be appointed in every Dialysis Centre.

 

24. Special recruitment drive will be taken up to fill vacant posts of doctors and para-medical staff in government hospitals across Telangana State.

 

25. The proposal to give Civil Assistant Surgeons and Assistant Professors a minimum monthly pay of Rs. 1.5 Lakh will be considered.

 

26. Doctor, Nurses, Para Medical Staff, Class-IV staff will be appointed according to MCI’s rules and regulations.

 

27. Required nursing staff will be appointed in all government hospitals as per the norms of the Nursing Council. Eligible staff will be appointed as Assistant Doctors on the basis of seniority.

 

28. A special awareness campaign will be launched on life-threatening diseases such as cancer, diabetes and blood pressure.

 

29. A Government Cancer Hospital will be established in Warangal.
30. Two major hospitals will be established for patients with mental disabilities.
31. A 24-hour blood testing lab and ultra-sound diagnostic clinics will be set up in every district. Apart from this, blood banks will be a set up by deploying staff to work in three shifts.

 

32. Outsourcing Policy will be completely scrapped and all contract employees will be regularised as per the rules. They will be paid salaries as per the directives of the Supreme Court verdict.

 

33. Nursing Staff working in private hospitals will be given job security. They will be ensured salaries on Equal Pay for Equal Work basis. They will also get PF, ESI and duty uniform.

 

34. Steps will be taken to clear Rs. 750 crore dues to the Telangana Network Hospitals Association.

 

35. Steps will be taken to provide ESI and PF facility to employees of private pharmacies.

 

36. The service of contract employees working in different health sectors will be regularised as per the rules and their academic qualifications.

 

37. The doctors’ retirement will be increased to 65 years. Government Doctors will be given promotion.

 

38. A Medical Card Manual will be introduced for all patients so as to digitise the medical records of a patient.

 

39. Several medical devices in hospitals have been lying unused pending repairs. a Bio-Medical Engineer will be appointed in every teaching hospital. These engineers will repair medical devices and make them re-usable.

 

40. Children studying in all government schools will be provided milk for five days a week. Right to Health will be implemented.

 

41. In each public school, besides conducting medical check-ups, students will also be given free medicines.

 

42. Pregnant women and girls facing deficiencies of iron and nutrition will be provided pre-cooked Millet packets and other vitamin supplements at free of cost through the primary health centers.

 

43. Ayurveda, Unani and Homeo hospitals will be promoted.
44. As per an order of Supreme Court, it is mandatory for private hospitals, built on land allocated by the government on concessional rates, to provide 10 percent treatment to In-Patient Department (IPD) and 25 percent to Out Patient Department (OPD) for free. Steps will be taken to strictly implement these orders.

 

45. Facility of free medical examinations will be made available at all Primary Health Centres.

 

46. Medicines to treat snake, scorpion and dog bites will be made available in every village.

 

 

7. HOUSING

 

Smt. Indira Gandhi was the first leader who emphasised on the need for Roti, Kapda, Makan (Food, Clothing and Housing). The government headed by Smt. Indira Gandhi had introduced a unique scheme to resolve the housing problem of poor across the country. Following her ideals, the previous Congress Government had constructed 19,14,535 housing units from 2007 to 2014 under the Indiramma Housing Scheme. However, by not releasing the dues of just Rs. 2,000 crore, TRS Government delayed the construction of 3,36,498 crore (Check).

 

Poor people, who were living in Indiramma houses, were removed from the premises. Lakhs of beneficiaries were humiliated with KCR making fun of the size of housing units. KCR had promised to construct double bedroom houses for all the eligible beneficiaries. As per the Intensive Household Survey, there are nearly 22 Lakh persons eligible to get a housing unit. However, the TRS Government constructed just 4,624 units during the last four-and-a-half years.

 

On being voted to power, the Congress Government would work with the slogan of ‘IndirammaRajyam, Inti IntikiSowbhagyam’ and intensify the drive to provide housing for all and restore their self-respect.

 

1. All eligible families will be given Rs. 5 Lakh assistance for construction of house on their own land.

 

2. For SC, ST families, Rs. 6 Lakh will be given the construction of their own house.
3. Dues of Indiramma Housing Scheme will be cleared immediately.
4. 2 Lakh assistance will be given for construction of another room or other facilities to the beneficiaries of Indiramma Housing Scheme.

 

5. Cement will be provided at subsidised cost for construction of houses for the poor and middle class under the Indiramma Cement Supply Scheme.

 

6. Efforts will be made to control the prices of steel and cement needed for the construction of houses.

 

 

8. SC Welfare

 

According to the Intensive Household Survey, there are 14 Lakh Scheduled Caste (SC) families in Telangana. Of them, nearly 10 Lakh families are living in rural areas and dependent on agriculture. Of them, about 4 Lakh families do not have even one cent of land and 4 Lakh families have less than 3 acres of land.

 

Similarly, due to lack of opportunities in education and employment and lack of agricultural land, lakhs of Dalit families are living in poverty. According to the CAG report, about 30% of the SC students drop out from 1st to 8th class. Due to lack of skills or expertise, SC youth are deprived of jobs and are forced to work as daily wage labourers.

 

Dalits had a lot of expectations from the Telangana State and hoped for improvement in their socio -economic status and political empowerment. Promising Dalits of protecting their rights, KCR had promised that the first Chief Minister of Telangana will be a Dalit. However, he insulted the self-respect of Dalits and acquired the post of Chief Minister himself after TRS was voted to power.

 

With great difficulties, the previous Congress regime had introduced a Sub-Plan for SCs and STs to ensure their focussed development. But KCR diverted those funds. TRS Govt had promised to spend Rs. 50,000 crore for SC Welfare by allocating Rs. 10,000 crore every year. However, as against the allocations of Rs. 40,527 crore from 2014- 2018 under SC Sub-Plan, only Rs. 19,000 crores were spent and remaining 53% funds were diverted for other purposes.

 

Similarly, only Rs 11,799 crores were spent out of Rs. 26,033 crore towards SC welfare and rest 54% funds were diverted. SCs have voted for TRS believing KCR’s promise that his government would give 3 acres of land to one Lakh poor Dalit families. However, the land was allocated to only 12,000 families and only 2,864 families have completed the registration process.

 

KCR, who constructed a palatial bungalow (Pragathi Bhavan) equivalent to the size of Golconda Fort, for himself failed to construct 100-feet statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar despite laying its foundation stone. KCR’s son and minister K. Tarakarama Rao has subjected Dalits to third-degree police torture when they objected the illegal movement of lorries belong to KCR-family based sand mafia in Sircilla, the constituency represented by KTR. Atrocities were done on Dalit

 

women. One Dalit was brutally murdered in broad-daylight for performing inter-caste marriage.

 

Led by AICC President Rahul Gandhi, Congress party has been working hard for the empowerment of Dalits as per the aspirations of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and BabuJagjivan Ram. Congress party, if voted to power in the next elections, will implement the following promises to ensure socio-economic and educational empowerment of SCs in Telangana State.

 

 

1. Categorisation of SCs into A, B, C, D categories is a long pending demand. The State Assembly has passed resolutions several times asking the Centre to categorise the SCs. On this, the Central Government established the Usha Mehra Commission, which later recommended SC categorisation. Immediately after coming to power, the next Congress Government will approach the Centre to expedite the process of categorisation of SCs.

 

2. In order to provide justice to all the SC communities, three Special Corporations under the SC Welfare Department will be constituted. One will be for Madigas, one for Malas and another will be for other SC communities.

 

3. An essential mechanism will be set in place for the proper implementation of SC-ST Sub-Plan. Administrative set up will be strengthened for the speedy implementation of schemes.

 

4. The SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act will be strictly implemented to control the rising atrocities against Dalits. Fast track courts will be set up in every district for the early disposal of pending cases.

 

5. Poor SC and ST families will be provided free power up to 200 units.
6. The professional Drum Beaters who completed 50 years of age will be given a pension of Rs. 2,000 per month.

 

7. A comprehensive caste-wise survey of SCs will be conducted to study the socio-economic and political condition of each community. Based on the survey findings, funds will be allocated to each of the three corporations to take up welfare programmes.

 

8. Instead of appointing political figureheads, legal and other experts will be appointed as the chairmen of SC, ST Commissions.

 

9. Caste certificates will be issued to MadasiKuruva / MadariKuruva as per recommendations of the National SC Commission. Mistakes committed by the previous government will also be rectified.

 

10. The unemployed graduate/professionals will be given loans up to Rs. 10 Lakh with 80% percent subsidy.

 

11. The scheme to procure cultivable land, launched by the previous Congress Government, will be revived. Indira Jala Prabha Scheme will also be implemented.

 

12. Members of Valmiki and Mehtar community, who are working as sanitation workers in GHMC would be provided pay scales on the basis of Equal Work, Equal Pay.

 

13. Anganwadi Schools will be established for 20 children in all Dalit bastis. Steps will be taken to control the drop-out rate among SCs. Health check-ups will be conducted on a regular basis for Dalit students.

 

14. RTE will be strictly implemented and measures will be taken to provide reservation to SCs in private schools.

 

15. Five percent (5%) of all government contracts will be given SC, ST and other groups. Dalit contractors will be made eligible to participate in tenders worth below Rs. 2 crores without depositing the Earnest Money Deposit.

 

16. Steps will be taken to fill all backlog vacancies of SCs and STs in government departments.

 

17. Laws will be strictly implemented to give protection to those performing inter-caste marriage. Fast track courts will be established to get justice for victims. In addition to the financial assistance given by the Centre for inter-caste marriages, the amount will be increased up to Rs. 5 Lakh.

 

18. To facilitate SC students take up higher education in foreign universities, the financial assistance Under the Ambedkar Overseas Educational Scheme will be increased from Rs. 20 lakhs to Rs. 25 Lakh. The annual income eligibility will be increased from Rs. 5 Lakh to Rs. 10 Lakh.

 

 

9. Adivasis/Girijans Welfare

 

The Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Telangana are populous in both plain and hilly and forest areas. Like all other sections, Girijans and Tribals were subjected to all kinds of discrimination. They were expecting a better life in the separate Telangana State. But their lives turned worst under TRS regime. KCR has created enmity among Trials for his own political gains.

 

Thousands of STs living in agency areas are suffering from various infectious diseases and lethal fever due to lack of medical facilities. While KCR purchased a new helicopter for his own travel, he forgot the promise of introducing helicopter ambulance for tribals. Several Tribal mothers are selling off their babies due to poverty.

 

In connivance with Modi Government, KCR regime has forced lakhs of tribals to migrate into Andhra areas.

 

Despite State Legislative Assembly having the authority to enhance reservation quota for STs, the Bill to increase ST quota was sent to the Centre for approval while depriving the STs benefit of enhanced quota in proportionate to their population. The promise of construction of the Banjara Bhavan in Hyderabad remained confined to the foundation stone laying ceremony. Tribal lands were taken away in the name of Haritha Haram.

 

As against the allocation of Rs. 7,646 crores from 2014-2018, only Rs 4,310 crore was spent and the remaining 44% of the funds were diverted for other works.

 

With the spirit of KommaramBheem who gave the slogan of ‘Jal, Jangal, Zameen’ and the souls of ‘Sammakka-Sarakka’ who laid down their lives to protect the self -respect of Tribals, the Congress party vows to provide equal opportunities to STs in education, jobs and other fields. If voted to power it will implement the following:

 

1. Under ST Welfare Department, three corporations will be set up with one for Koya Gond, another for Lambadas and one more for other ST communities.

 

2. Required administrative set up will be put in place for effective implementation of SC, ST Sub-Plan.

 

3. STs will be given reservation quota in proportionate to their population in the State.

 

4. Scheduled Area Lands Transfer Act, 1970 will be implemented for the Girijans living in agency areas.

 

5. Centre will be pressurised to declare SammakkaSarakkaJatra as National Adivasi Jatra.

 

6. Teej/Sitla festivals will be recognised as State festivals.

 

7. Small-scale industries will be started in Tribal areas through the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) to provide employment to local Tribals.

 

8. Medical facilities will be improved in tribal areas. Rules will be framed to ensure availability of doctors locally. Local Tribal youth will be trained in primary medical assistance and they will be appointed on payment of honorarium.

 

9. A committee will be constituted to conduct a comprehensive survey on the conditions of each caste among STs. Based on the recommendation of the committee, allocation of funds for the above mentioned corporations will be done for their welfare.

 

10. Two acres of land will be allocated in Hyderabad for construction of Sevalal Bhavan. Sant Seva Lal Jayanti will be officially celebrated.

 

11. Laws will be strictly implemented to give protection to those performing inter-caste marriage. Fast track courts will be established to get justice for victims. In addition to the financial assistance given by the Centre for inter-caste marriages, the amount will be increased up to Rs. 5 Lakh.

 

12. Iron ore industry will be set up in Bayyaram.
13. Tanda Gram Panchayats will be recognised as Revenue villages.
14. NagobaJatra will be recognised as State festival and Keeslapur area will be developed as Tourist Hub.

 

15. The Jambo Bai Temple in Adilabad will be developed.
16. Efforts will be made to provide total rights for lands under cultivation.
17. Special funds will be allocated for the development of Koya, Gond and other tribal areas.

 

18. Steps will be taken for the linguistic development of the Koya and Gond and curriculum books will be published in these languages.

 

19. State Government will try to fix the prices forest products collected by Girijans.
20. Girijan farmers will be provided agricultural equipment at free of cost.
21. Forest Rights Act will be enforced under PESA 1/70.
22. Pattas will be issued for lands being cultivated by Adivasis.
23. Plantation in the name of Haritha Haram will not be permitted on the lands being cultivated by Tribals.

 

24. Adivasis will be provided facilities for cultivation by supplying seedlings of plants with nutritional value and those which can generate income for them.

 

25. Cultivable land will be distributed among Tribals living in plain areas under SC, ST Sub-Plan and they will be linked with Indira Jala Prabha Scheme.

 

26. Steps will be taken to purchase Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) through Girijan Cooperative Committees on MSP and sell them to people.

 

27. Residential schools will be started in Tribal areas to impart education in English and local language.

 

28. The powers of Gram Sabhas in Tribal areas will be recognised and their culture, tradition, and language will be protected.

 

29. Mobile Health Vehicles will be deployed to prevent diseases among Tribals living in the agency and far-off areas.

 

30. Measures will be taken to provide safe drinking water in the tribal areas. People living in the forest areas will be provided with kits to tackle the mosquito menace and solar lights.

 

31. In view of special circumstances in the tribal areas, special assistance will be given to agriculture and crops will be identified in these areas. Marketing facility will be provided to sell their crops.

 

32. Irrigation schemes will be started as per the requirement of Tribal areas and they will be completed with the participation of local people.

 

33. Special schemes for food security in the Tribal areas will be started and they will supply nutritious food through the Public Distribution System.

 

34. In the Tribal areas, the responsibility of implementing the NREGS will be assigned to ITDA.

 

35. The banking system will be improved in Tribal areas. The government will provide crop loans to Tribal farmers and if crops get damaged due to natural calamities, they will be given compensation on par with other farmers.

 

36. Brokers and middlemen will be weeded out by installing Digital Kiosks in Tribal areas.

 

37. Members of Erakula castes will be given loans up to Rs. 10 lakh loans with 80% subsidy.

 

38. Nalamalla Forest areas will be brought under Schedule area and the inhabitants will be protected under Tribal Act 1/70.

 

39. The administration of Forestry-based industries will be given to the Tribal people and their cooperatives. They will be provided necessary investment, human resources, and training in various skills.

 

40. SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act will be strictly implemented and fast-track courts will be established for early disposal of pending cases.

 

 

 

10. Minorities

 

Telangana is the synonym of ‘Ganga Jamuni’ culture where Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhist, Jain and followers of all other religions peacefully co-exists. The minorities of Telangana have played a key role in the statehood movement.

 

For whatever be the reasons, a majority of minority community members are living Below Poverty Line. In order to change their socio-economic and educational conditions, the Congress party, under the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi had promised 5% Muslim reservation in 2004. Within 58 days after winning the elections, the then Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy implemented the promise. However, following legal complications the reservation quota was reduced to 4%. It were the previous Congress regimes which constituted the country’s first minorities’ welfare department and also constituted Minority Finance Corporation. It was in 2013-14 itself that the then Congress Government increased the minority welfare budget to over Rs. 1,000 crore.

 

However, in 2014 elections, Muslims trusted the TRS after KCR promised to increase the Muslim quota to 12% within four months after coming to power. Constitution of Sudhir Commission, BC Commission and then passing a resolution in the Legislature to increase the Muslim quota to 12% went in vain as KCR colluded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Government at the Centre to dump the 12% quota promise.

 

KCR also cheated the Muslim community on multiple counts. Wakf Board was not given promised judicial powers and not a single inch of encroached land was restored. Tall claims were made on increasing the budget for minorities welfare. But not even 70% of the budget was actually spent. Of Rs. 4,759 Crore allocated from 2014-2018, only Rs. 2,659 crore were spent and remaining 44% funds were diverted or allowed to lapse.

 

Lot of hype was created around Shaadi Mubarak scheme by TRS Govt. In reality, the number of pending applications were more than thrice than the applications being sanctioned. Funds are not being released to the beneficiaries of the scheme. At one side, TRS and MIM are maintaining illicit relationship with the BJP. On the other side, poor Muslims are being humiliated by giving them sub-standard clothes after making them stand in long queues before Ramzan Eid.

 

A majority of minority institutions were closed due to non-release of funds towards Fee Reimbursement. This led to thousands of poor Muslims students discontinuing higher education. Innocent Muslims were being harassed by the police and five Muslim under trails were killed in an alleged encounter. TRS Government did not even came up with

 

the SIT report on Alair encounter. Not a single Muslim officer has been giving a prominent position in any government department.

 

The Congress party, which strongly believes in Unity In Diversity, will implement the following measures if voted to power in next elections:

 

1. Sub-Plan for Minorities to allocate and budget in proportionate to population.
2. Establishment of three finance corporations:

 

Muslim Minorities Finance Corporation Christian Minorities Finance Corporation Linguistic &Other Minorities Finance Corporation

 

Muslim Minorities Finance Corporation:

 

1. Recommendations of Sachar Committee and Sudhir Commission will be implemented

 

2. Muslim minority youth will be given opportunities to get government contracts so as to provide them employment

 

3. Judicial powers will be given to Wakf Board and strict legal action will be taken to remove encroachments.

 

4. Eligible minorities will be given Rs. 5 lakh financial assistance for construction of own house.

 

5. All Imams and Maouzans of mosques will be given a monthly honorarium of Rs.6,000.

 

6. All vacancies in Urdu Medium schools will be filled.
7. If vacant teacher posts are not filled with the eligible non-minority teachers, these posts will be filled with Muslim minority candidates by adopting Time Frame Roster policy.

 

8. Urdu Academy will be strengthened by giving it adequate funds.
9. Women living slums and bastis will be given loans with 80% subsidy for self employment or household industries.

 

10. One Skill Development Centre, affiliated with Vocational Skill Development University, will be established in all district headquarters to train minority youth in various skills and create employment opportunities.

 

11. A separate board will be constituted in Education Department to oversee the distribution of Scholarships and Fee Reimbursement for minority students.

 

12. Government School in minority concentrated areas which were closed will be re-opened. Pre-primary, Primary, Upper-Primary and Secondary Schools buildings will be constructed.

 

13. Poor minority students will be given Rs. 20 lakh assistance for overseas education.

 

14. Special Residential Schools will be established for girls belonging to minority community.

 

15. Urdu will be strictly implemented as second official language. All GOs will also be issued in Urdu.

 

16. Minority community youth, both skilled and un-skilled, will be provided loans up to Rs. 5 lakh with 80% subsidy.

 

17. Government Hospitals will be established in minority concentrated areas.
18. Urdu translator will be appointed in all districts. All applications in every government office will also be received in Urdu language.

 

19. It will be made mandatory to have one member from Muslim community in the Telangana State Public Service Commission. All kinds of discrimination on religious grounds in giving jobs in both public and private sectors will be stopped. Strict action will be taken against those who refuse jobs in private sector to anyone on the basis of his/her religion.

 

20. Free power supply will be given to all Churches and Mosques.
21. Modernisation of Madarsas will be taken up at a large scale. Madarsa students will also be given Scholarships, Clothes and other assistance.

 

22. Recognition of certificates issued by Madarsas will be considered.
23. A special DSC will be conducted for recruitment of Urdu teachers.
24. Attacks on minorities will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken. Judicial Enquiry will be ordered into Alair Encounter and guilty will be punished.

 

25. Minority youth and women will be provided loans with 80% subsidy and without furnishing any security for self-employment schemes.

 

26. Directions will be issued to banks to approve loans without discriminating anyone on religious grounds.

 

27. Provide adequate funds to facilitate better functioning of the prestigious heritage institution “DairatulMaarifil Osmania” with full time director and special care will be taken to protect manuscripts.

 

28. DairatulMaarifil Osmania employees will have employment protection and their services will be regularised as per statutory norms.

 

Christian Minorities Finance Corporation:

 

1. Measures will be taken to grant SC status to Dalit Christians, by adopting a resolution in state assembly and will be sent to Centre for approval.Every step will be taken to ensure that Dalit quota and their rights arenot affected.

 

2. Pastors will be given Health and Accidental Insurance of Rs. 5 lakh

 

3. They will be given double bed room houses or financial assistance to construct their own house.Their children will be given free education.

 

4. A better system will be introduced for release of funds for construction and repairs of Churches.

 

5. Honorarium will be given to Pastors and Fathers on par with Pujarais of Temple and Imams/Maozan of mosques.

 

6. A Commission, headed by a retired judge, will be constituted to study the socio-economic conditions of Christian minorities.

 

7. Residential Schools will be established for Christian minorities.
8. Minority institutions which were closed due to the negligent attitude of TRSgovernment will be re-opened.

 

9. Vacant posts in aided-institutions run by Christian Missionaries will be filled.
10. Financial assistance will be given minority institutions.
11. Skilled youth among Christian community will be given loans up to Rs. 10 lakh on par with BCs.

 

12. A Skill Development Centre, affiliated with Vocational Skill Development University, will be established in all district headquarters to train Christian minority youth in various skills and create employment opportunities.

 

13. Double bed room houses will be allotted to poor Christians or Rs. 5 lakh financial assistance will be given for construction of own house if they own a plot.

 

14. Steps will be taken to prevent attacks on Christian minorities.

 

15. Land will be allocated for construction of Churches.
16. Separate Welfare Board will be constituted for Christian Welfare and Minority Commission will be given judicial powers.

 

17. Christian Bhavan will be constructed within one year after formation of government.

 

18. Subsidy will be given to Christians for holy land Jerusalem tour.

 

Linguistic Christians & Other Minorities

 

1. Reservation in jobs and education will be given to Linguistic Minorities who arein large numbers living in Hyderabad City.

 

2. Poor women, Old Age Persons belonging to Linguistic Minority Communities will be given equal opportunities in jobs, education pension, housing, self-employment and social security on par with other poor segments.

 

Noor Bash/Laddaf

 

1. Students belonging to Noor Bash/Laddaf communities will be provided financial assistance for higher education and they would be given job opportunities.

 

2. Loans up to Rs. 5 lakh with 80% subsidy will be given to the youth of these communities to promote their professions.

 

The Congress Government will ensure protection of minority communities from all kinds of attacks and discrimination. Steps will be taken to provide land for graveyards/Shamshan for Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jain and other minority communities.

 

 

12 – Welfare of Backward Classes (BC)

 

Proportion of Backward Classes in Telangana population is more. According to the comprehensive survey conducted by the state government of Telangana in 2014, the population of Backward Classes accounts for more than 52 per cent of state population. The role of the Backward Classes in the Telangana movement is unforgettable. A Joint Action Committee comprising all the tribes belonging to the Backward Classes struggled to achieve Telangana statehood. Majority of the people who sacrificed their lives to achieve Telangana belonged to the Backward Classes. BC leaders like Konda Laxman Bapuji, Prof. Jay Shankar, M. Veeranna and B. Lalitha have played an important role in giving Telangana movement a direction.

 

Unfortunately, after the formation of Telangana state due to the negligence of the KCR government, Backward Classes got a raw deal. Unemployed youth among the BC Backward Classes who were waiting for jobs, were forced to avail government schemes like sheeps, goats and fisheries distribution. Unemployment workers who have waited for jobs are now limited to schemes like sheep distribution of fisheries. The educational opportunities for BC students are also being obstructed. The TRS government showed little interest in fully implementing the fee reimbursement scheme introduced by the former Congress government. The TRS government came to power promising to spend Rs. 25,000 crores during its tenure with the annual budget of Rs. 5,000 crores towards fee reimbursement scheme, but allocated only Rs.13, 939 crores for the period 2014 to 2018 and spent only Rs. 8,109 crores. 42% of the allocated funds were transferred to other tasks and thereby created obstruction in the development works for the Backward Classes. The TRS government betrayed the Backward Classes by not providing reservations proportionate to its population in the Panchayat elections. They didn’t even respect the decision of High Court and deprived the Backward Classes politically too.

 

The incoming Congress government will implement the following growth plans for the development of Backward Classes and to realize the dreams of community leaders like

 

Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule, Sri SarvaiPapanna Goud, Shrimati C. Ailamma, Sri D. Kumarya, Sri Konda Laxman Bapuji, Sri P. Shiv Shankar, Sri Krishna Swamy Mudiraj, Sri Jay Shankar, Sri MarojuVeeranna, Sri Belli Lalitha and Dharma Bhiksham.

 

1. Three Separate BC Welfare Departments will be set up to provide equal share in the development of all BC classes.

 

• Backward Classes Welfare Department

 

• Extremely backward class welfare department

 

• Backward Classes Welfare Department comprising of Banjara tribes

 

2. Measures will be taken to introduce a Sub-Plan for Backward Classes with proper budget.

 

3. Resolution will be passed in the state Assembly to force Centre for withdrawal of OBC from the creamy layer.

 

4. All the 26 castes removed from the list of backward classes by the TRS government will be restored in the B.C. list on priority after the Congress government is formed.

 

5. Reservations in the distribution of seats in local bodies’ elections under A, B, C, D and E categories will be followed and steps will be taken to ensure reservations are increased for the Backward Classes in proportion to their population

 

6. Eligible Backward Classes sections will be provided free electricity up to 200 units.

 

7. Artisans who are more than 50 years age will get Rs. 2,000 monthly pension.

 

8. Artisans will be provided a health insurance and up to Rs. 5 lakh life insurance cover.

 

9. As soon as the Congress government comes into power, it will initiate the census of caste data on scientific basis and will also evaluate the social, economical and political conditions of every section of backward classes. It will then formulate developmental plans in the fixed time and a governmental and legal review committee will be formed to frame guidelines for its implementation.

 

10. Under the purview of marginalized sections and extremely backward classes and very backward sections of the welfare department, based on their socio-economic political conditions and by allocating special funds, corporation/federation for each caste will be formed to prepare plans for the development of these castes.

 

11. Steps will be taken to nominate family members of the BC caste as priests in their respective temples.

 

12. Centers for selling to be set up for sale of goods manufactured by self-employed professionals at Mandal, District and State Headquarters.

 

13. To promote personal occupations, essential raw materials, machinery and new technology will be provided on subsidised rates.

 

14. Free coaching, lodging and boarding will be provided for BC students to help them pursue higher studies within the state and prepare for competitive examinations.

 

15. In all the government and aided institutions, BC backlog vacancies will be filled.
16. Government will pay the full fee without considering the merit and income limit.
17. BC manufacturers will be encouraged by giving them appropriate concessions.
18. The rules and regulations of district level Scale of Finance Committees will be redesigned to make agriculture-related occupations eligible for loans.

 

19. Efforts will be made to incorporate occupations using wood, iron and other goods in the Guaranteed Employment Scheme.

 

20. Animal Caregivers will be given special identity cards and they will be provided insurance for Medical care and insurance will also be provided for their animals. Government will pay the premium.

 

21. Scheme will be announced to facilitate people associated with service providing occupations like washermen, barbers etc in reducing the burden of work and acquiring the latest electronic devices to increase their productivity and income.

 

22. Washermen will be trained in using electronic machines and measures will be taken to help them get tenders for cleaning clothes in railways, hotels and other major business establishments. Women will be helped in growing their business through Self Help Groups (SHGs).

 

23. Scheme will be prepared to help occupations like fishermen and Mudiraj get income through managing lakes and ponds.

 

24. Funds will be allocated to improve the financial condition of Co-operative organizations associated with backward classes. New Co-operative organizations will be set up. New members will be added while holding elections to the old co-operative organizations. Representation of women will be increased.

 

25. Life Insurance of Rs. 10 lakh and a Health Insurance of Rs. 5 lakh will be provided to all the poor craftsmen

 

Weaver

 

1. Loans for weaving labourers will be waived off
2. Welfare schemes for Weavers and Power Looms will be named after Konda Laxman Bapuji.

 

3. On the lines of Mulkanoor Cooperative Society, Cooperative Societies will be established to help the weavers become economically self-determined. For this, government will provide the necessary economic assistance. Through these societies, government will provide thread, color for dyeing, chemicals and other equipments at 50% subsidy. These societies will offer loans with the interest rates of 25 paise per 100 rupees.

 

4. Apart from skill development training, marketing and transport, warehouses will also be provided.

 

5. The production from these societies will be linked with e-Commerce institutions such as Amazon, Flipkart etc.

 

6. Depots of Silk and Cotton thread in Telangana state will be increased. The families of weavers will be directly provided colors for dyeing and chemicals with 20 to 40 percent subsidy.

 

7. Thread manufacturing industry will be set up in Telangana.

 

8. Weaver Centres will be established in Karim Nagar, Warangal, Mahabub Nagar and Nalgona districts for the growth of design development, skill training and marketing in the Telangana State. These Weaver Centres will be associated with Vocational Skill Development and Employment University.

 

9. Skill training units will be set up in Mahabub Nagar, Adilbad, Medak and Karim Nagar districts.

 

10. The government will itself purchase the weavers production through the APEX Cooperative Organization. Thrift scheme will be reintroduced. Facility will be provided so the payment is received within a year.

 

11. Free electricity will be provided to the power loom owners. Funds will be allocated for the welfare of power loom workers.

 

12. Decision has been taken to set up facilities for dyeing in Mahabub Nagar, Rajori, Karim Nagar, and Pochampally. These facilities will be constructed with the help of central funds.

 

13. To protect the consumers from fraud, labelling of weaver products will be implemented with the help of central government. Natural Fiber Fund will be established to purchase ordinary thread.

 

14. Weavers returning from Surat, Gujarat will rehabilitated and basic facilities will be provided to them.

 

Goud

 

1. Toddy tapper profession will be separated from the ExciseDepartment and will be included in the Grameena Khadi Board.

 

2. Families of toddy tappers who die after falling from the tree will be given a compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs and the widows will be paid a monthly pension of Rs. 3,000.

 

3. Government or private land will be allocated to the toddy tapper organization so oil grows Palm and Sendhi trees

 

4. Statue of SarvaiPapanna Goud Maharaj will be installed on Tank Bund and the forts he built will be protected. The story of Papanna will be included in the history books of school curriculum

 

5. Toddy tappers will have rights over the Palm trees grown on government land in the Agency areas. And, the tax will be removed on the palm trees. Societies which are closed down in Agency areas will be reopened

 

6. The term of license for toddy selling will be increased from 5 years to 10 years
7. Toddy producers will be encouraged to produce toddy products in hybrid fashion on the lines of Kerala and Tamil Nadu toddy industry.

 

8. Marketing facility will be provided to promote the production of Neera.

 

Shepherds(Golla)

 

1. Loan facility will be provided to help run the Sheep Farms using modern equipments

 

2. Co-operative organizations of shepherds will be strengthen economically
3. If the shepherds die in an accident, the family members will be given ex-gratia. One of the family members will be given a pension through Life Insurance.

 

4. Sheep farmers will be distributed adequate amounts of medicines and vaccines
5. Insurance scheme will be introduced for the sheep and the premium will be paid by the government

 

6. Mobile health centers will be set up to provide medical facilities to livestock and sheep and vaccines will be distributed in adequate amount

 

7. To protect the sheep and goats from the dogs, financial aid will be provided on subsidised rates to build the fences

 

8. Shepherds who completed 50 years will be paid a pension of Rs. 2000

 

Fishermen

 

1. Special corporation will be set up to promote fish exports
2. Pucca houses will be constructed for fishing community. Colonies will be built with education and medical facilities.

 

3. Steps will be taken to help the fishermen catch fishes from the lakes in the forest area

 

4. People associated with fish-catching business only be given the right to manage the lakes

 

5. Young fishes will be supplied through cooperative corporation for fish farming

 

Washermen

 

1. Dhobi ghats will be modernized throughout the state. New modern dhobi ghats will be constructed ad these Dhobi ghats will be provided free electricity

 

2. Washermen who establish dry cleaning units will be given loans without taking the term into account

 

3. Washermen with ioning shops will be provided subsidized electricity

 

Goldsmith

 

1. Proper financial assistance will be provided to the people associated with the goldsmith profession to help them buy modern equipments

 

2. Goldsmiths will be provided raw material like coal, iron and wood on subsidy
3. Goldsmiths ( Kumri, Wadrangi ) having licenses will be appointed through tenders for the works taken up by the government

 

4. Jewellery Parks will be set up for the marketing of various designs of ornaments by the goldsmiths

 

5. Only license holding artists will be given the job of repair works of statues and stones in the renovation of old and newly constructed temples

 

6. Only license holding Kansali have a right to sell his manufactured items
7. Goldsmiths working in banks will be nominated as Appraisers and their jobs will be protected

 

8. Forest officials raids on Wadrangi and police raids on Goldsmiths will be prevented

 

9. Special identity cards will be provided to raise the livestock. The sheep farmers and their livestock will be provided health facilities through insurance. Premium will be provided by the government

 

Barber

 

1. To provide music artists employment and help find employment opportunities, setting up of music school will be given preference

 

2. Like women’s DWCRA groups, Self Help Groups (SHGs) will be established for barbers and they will be provided loans. They will be provided necessary equipment for their shops at subsidised rates

 

3. Government will facilitate in setting up women’s beauty parlors. Financial assistance will be provided to the women from this community

 

4. Barber salons will be charged for using electricity under domestic tariffs instead of commercial tariffs and they will be provided free electricity up to 200 units

Potter

 

1. 1A training center will be set up at the district level for pottery products and to exhibit their products an exhibition will be conducted and marketing facilities will be provided

 

2. The use of best pottery for healthy lifestyle will be promoted
3. Potters will be provided necessary modern equipment free of cost

 

Other Castes

 

1. Interest free loans up to Rs. 5 Lakhs will be provided to tailors so they can run their own tailoring shops and Boutiques

 

2. Up to Rs.10 Lakhs loan with lower interest rate will be provided to the co-operative organizations for manufacturing units of readymade garments

 

3. The labouring work of buildings will accorded as profession and the persons engaged with this profession would be inspired.

 

4. In the state of Telangana 20% reservations would be provided in mining sector.
5. Necessary equipments would be provided to the Vaddars on Subsidy
6. Special organizations would be established for the stone crushing units.
7. Congress government if come into power scientific survey for the review of economical condition particularly among Banjaras welfare plans would be prepared. They would be provided identity cards and ration cards.

 

8. If possible agricultural land would be allotted to them. Housing colonies would

be built for  Banjaras and their children would get educational facilities

9. By giving recognized status to the Banjaras, able persons will be included in the list.

 

10. To provide self employment and jobs, proper steps would be taken.

 

 

13 – Welfare of Economically Backward Classes

 

Many communities are economically deprived due to poor growth even they belong to so-called upper castes. They are living in poor condition as they do not get proper educational and job opportunities. It is very necessary to concern such communities for overall social upliftment. So following schemes will be implemented with this concept.

 

1. To uplift the economically backward communities, exclusive E.B.C. welfare department will be established. People among the Reddy, Kamma, Vaishya, Brahmin, Velma castes would be brought in the above department and separate corporations will be established for each caste.

 

2. All eligible students would get scholarships and fee reimbursement will also be provided.

 

3. To provide opportunity of education in foreign universities for eligible E.B.C. jobless students Rs. 25 lakhs overseas scholarships scheme will be implemented.

 

4. Congress government if voted to power will conduct socio-economic and political backwardness among these communities in a scientific way and after that upliftment schemes will be prepared in due time and to get recommendations of guidelines for its implementation and separate official and legal committees would be setup.

 

5. The help will be provided for the welfare of the aforesaid castes while allocating the special funds on the basis of their socio-economic conditions.

 

6. Land will be provided for the people among these economically backward communities to have their own house and the ownership of the land would be handed over to the female member of the family.

 

7. B.C. hostels will be established for E.B.C. students and there would separate hostels for girl students.

 

8. Bank loans would be provided for self employment through skill building for jobless youths and willing entrepreneurs.

 

9. Free power supply of 200 units for poor E.B.Cs.

 

14. Women

 

Women have made unforgettable contribution in the statehood movement which eventually led to formation of separate Telangana State. They took part in all programmes, along with men, for the sake of statehood. They came on streets to press for their demand and also faced lathicharge and arrests. They used Bathukamma and Bonalu festivals to express their desire for Telangana State. The brave women supported the statehood movement at every level.

 

They had a dream that the women would become self-reliant and empowered after the formation of Telangana. They also expected a share in the social Telangana. However, KCR has shattered the dreams of all mothers and sisters by not inducting a single woman in the first cabinet of Telangana. He also insulted them by making them stand in long queues just to get a cheap sari during Bathukamma festival.

 

Previous Congress regime had empowered women by providing interest-free loans to nearly 6 lakh Self Help Groups. TRS Govt discontinued the scheme to destroy the self-reliance of all women. The funds allocated for welfare of women were diverted for other purposes. KCR Govt did not clear the interest for loans procured by Women SHGs in 2016. This resulted in collapse of interest-free loan scheme. Lack of support from the State Government has killed the very purpose of formation of Women SHGs.

 

More than four years after formation of Telangana State, the Women’s Commission has not been formed. As against the huge publicity being given to She Teams, overall women’s security was ignored. Special legislations were promised for protection of women and also to stop domestic violence. Tall claims of taking out eyes of those who look at women in wrong way were made. But in practicality, nothing was done and today Telangana ranks 6th in the country in rapes and sexual abuse cases.

 

Congress party,if to power, will implement the following measures for the welfare of women in Telangana.

 

1. A Financial Assistance of Rs. 1,50,116 will be given for the marriage of poor girls.

 

2. BPL families holding White Ration Card will be given 6 LPG cylinders free of cost every year

 

3. Outstanding dues of interest-free loans will be cleared
4. All Women SHGs will be given a grant of Rs. 1 lakh each. This amount need not be returned to the government.

 

5. Abhay Hastham scheme will be revived and the pension amount will be increased from Rs 500 to Rs.1,000. Apart from this, Aam Aadmi Jana Shri Yojna will be revived.

 

6. Each SHG will be permitted to get a bank loan of Rs. 10 lakh for which the interest will be paid by the government.

 

7. Each member of Women SHG would be given free life insurance cover of Rs. 2.5 lakh for natural death and Rs. 5 lakh for accidental death.

 

8. She Teams will be strengthened and expanded to villages and other cities.
9. Buildings will be constructed for DWCRA groups by spending Rs. 15 lakh in villages and Rs. 30 lakh in mandals

 

10. Steps will be taken to ensure availability of one woman sub-inspector and one lady constable on 24 hours basis in every police station.

 

11. A special fund of Rs. 500 Crore will be set up to transform women into industrialists.

 

12. BangaruTalli Scheme will be revived.
13. Sanitary pads will be provided free in government schools and colleges.
14. Services of 4,226 SERP employees will be regularised.
15. Salaries of Resources Persons in urban areas, VOAs in villages and Beema Mitras will be increased to Rs. 10,000.

 

16. Women Commission will be revived.
17. In case of death of both parents, minor girls will be provided education and social security.

 

18. Congress is committed to provide 33% reservation to women in law making bodies.

 

19. Women employees will get 6 months Maternity leave.
20. Almost 53% of women in Telangana are suffering from Iron-deficiency anaemia. Such women will be provided pre-cooked millet through Telangana Food Corporation.

 

21. Each pregnant woman will be provided nutritious and protein-rich food through PHCs.

 

22. Pension for single women, widows and Old Age women will be given pension at home itself through online payment mode.

 

23. Belt shops will be controlled in the villages.
24. Training Centres, affiliated with Vocational Skill Development and Employment University, will be set up in all Assembly constituency to train women.

 

25. Women will be given proper position in the protection of wildlife.
26. Steps will be taken to prevent crimes and atrocities against women. Fast track courts will be established for fast pace trial of cases of crimes against women and punish the guilty.

 

27. Women farmers and agricultural labourers will be issued identity cards.
28. Women belonging to SC, ST and BC communities will be given priority in land distribution programme and they will be provided all facilities, loans and marketing facilities for them to take up cultivation.

 

29. Employment will be provided to single woman doing cultivation and the woman belonging to the families of farmers who committed suicide by placing them in a special category.

 

30. Land records will be reviewed to give women their rights on land holdings. Alongside the name of cultivators, the names of their wives will be entered in Pahani 1B Register.

 

15. Employees Welfare

 

Government Employees have actively participated in the statehood movement while risking their jobs, careers and families. It was the 42- long ‘Sakala Janala Samme’ which moved the entire nation on demand for Telangana. In view of the struggle and sacrifices of employees, Congress Party President Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji paved the way for formation of Telangana state.

 

However, the employees who made several sacrifices expecting a better for themselves and their families were disappointed after they were deprived of their basic minimum rights by TRS regime. The expectations of employees were completely shattered with some leaders of their associations extracting personal gains and benefits from TRS Govt while sacrificing the interest of lakhs of their colleagues. Consequently, the employees were forced to continue to their struggle to get their rights for the last four years.

 

The Congress party assures that if voted to power it will implement the following promises:

 

1. Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) will be scrapped and Old Pension Method will be restored.

 

2. The new PRC will be implemented with much better fitment without any notional fixation.

 

3. The retirement age for State Government employees will be raised to 60 years.

 

4. Will bring back Telangana government employees working in Andhra Pradesh.

 

5. Justice will be done with Language Pandits, PET and 398 Special Teachers.
6. Outsourcing system will be completely scrapped.
7. All eligible government employees will be provided housing facility through cooperative societies.

 

8. Contract Employees will be regularised as per prescribed norms.
9. RTC will be merged into the State Government. RTC employees will be given pay scales on par with government employees. The parents of RTC employees will be extended benefits like pension and free treatment under Aarogyasri. Besides taking care of health of their family members, the Congress Government will take care of education needs of RTC employees.

 

10. The newly introduced Zonal System will be reviewed.
11. Women staff of Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff will be entitled to Maternity Leave for 6 months.

 

12. Financial assistance will be provided to the families of employees who died due to health reasons while working in Andhra Pradesh during the last four years.

 

13. Employees deployed in new districts in the name of Service Orders will be sent back to their native districts.

 

14. Free medical examination will be conducted for all employees and their family members. Awareness will be created on importance of Yoga, Meditation and other means to improve their health standards.

 

15. The age limit to apply for government jobs will be raised to provide unemployed youth another opportunity and fresh notifications will be issued.

 

16. Pending transfers will be executed to relieve thousands of employees of mental trauma.

 

17. Transfers will be done during summer holidays to minimise inconvenience to the employees and their children.

 

18. By modifying the Double Pension Scheme, 15% hike in pension will be given to pensioners who completed 70 years of age.

 

19. The demand for 100 percent increase in pension for above 90 years will be considered.

 

20. Justice will be done with the candidates who qualified in DSCs held in 1996, 1998 and 2002.

 

21. Employees will be benefitted by removing legal barriers for implementation of the Common Service Rules.

 

22. GE No. 223 will be cancelled to remove hurdles in promotion of junior lecturers. As per GO 302, the possibilities of giving promotion to 40% junior lecturers will be reviewed.

 

23. The problems of 398 Special Teachers will be resolved.
24. Wellness Centres will be established at all district headquarters.
25. Health Cards will be issued to the employees of Aided Residential Schools, Aadarsh Schools, KGVB, VVP employees.

 

26. Cash Free treatment will be ensured in all government and private hospitals through Health Cards.

 

27. Language Pandits and PETs will be given the status of School Assistants.
28. 3% reservation in jobs and self-employment will be given to sportspersons.
29. Fresh recruitments will be done to hire regular employees in place of those who got reinstated after retirement.

 

30. Outsourcing and Contract system of employment will be completely scrapped.

 

31. The provision, which provides for all appointments made on Compassionate Grounds in single administration, will be scrapped and appointments will be as and where required.

 

32. Measures will be taken to do justice to teachers who are working in schools serving Mid Day Meals.

 

33. The old system of full pay for SC, ST teachers who go for higher studies will be revived.

 

34. An Administrative Tribunal will be revived to resolve the problems of employees.

 

35. Legal safeguards will be provided to give job security to employees of Mee Seva Centres.

 

36. Minimum wages will be implemented for the nursing staff as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

 

37. Calendar for recruitments to fill vacant posts of nursing staff will be announced.

 

38. Nursing Directorate will be constituted as per the announcement made in the Telangana Legislative Assembly.

 

39. No gender discrimination will be made in the appointment of nursing staff.
40. Nursing students will be provided Scholarships and Stipends.
41. As per the amendments made by the Central Govt, Staff Nurses will be converted into the Nursing Officer.

 

42. Steps will be taken to construct Nursing Officers Colony on government land.
43. Health Cards will be issued to the nurses working in Health Department.
44. Staff of private educational institutions, both Teaching and Non-Teaching, will be given Health Insurance up to Rs. 5 lakh and they will be issued Health Cards. They will also be entitled for 12-month pay, job security, PG, Gratuity and compulsory holidays as per rules.

 

45. Monthly salary for 30,000 Asha Workers will be increased from Rs.7,500 to Rs.10,000.

 

46. Monthly salary for 12,000 Anganwardi teachers will be increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,500.

 

47. Monthly salary for 25,000 Village Revenue Assistants will be increased from Rs.10,000 to Rs.15,000.

 

48. All vacant posts in Sainik Boards will be filled with ex-servicemen.
49. On the lines of Punjab and Maharashtra, a new corporation will be established for ex-servicemen to encourage them to set up small industries.

 

50. Steps will be taken to introduce a Telangana Regiment in the army.
51. Ex-servicemen will be given 5 acres of cultivable land across the Telangana State. They will also be given Housing plots and Sainik Colonies would be established in all 31 districts of Telangana. The ex-servicemen will also get Rs. 5 lakh grant for construction of their houses. Further, another Rs. 5 lakh would be arranged as bank loan whose interest burden would be borne by the State Government.

 

52. Ex-servicemen who were allotted land by previous regimes will be given possession of land.

 

53. The Central Govt rules provide for 2% reservation in education for children of ex-servicemen and it will be implemented. Ex-servicemen will be given 2% quota in government jobs.

 

54. Ex-servicemen will be appointed as Special Police Officers and will be given benefits on par with regular police force.

 

55. Cash amount for recipients of Shourya Pathakam and Gallantry Awards will be increased

 

56. There will be a significant hike in the compensation paid to the families of soldiers who lay down their lives on the line of duty.

 

57. One member of a martyr’s family would be given a government job.
58. Suitable measures will be taken for the welfare of ex-servicemen.

 

 

16. Lawyers Welfare

 

Advocates took an active part in the Telangana movement and faced lathicharge, arrests and even cases. They fought cases registered against the Telangana activists and ensure release of several activists who were falsely implicated. However, the lawyers did not benefit from the Telangana State as TRS Government completely neglected them.

 

On coming to power, the Congress party will implement the following promises:

 

1. 300 crore fund will be established for the welfare of Lawyers.
2. 10 crore grant will be given to Telangana Bar Council on the lines of Tamil Nadu and Kerala Governments.

 

3. Newly joined advocated and those are practising regularly will be paid a monthly stipend of Rs. 5,000.

 

4. The compensation amount paid on the death of an advocate will be increased from present Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh to provide financial security to their families.

 

5. Funds under SC, ST Sub-Plan will be sanctioned for setting up own offices.
6. 2 acres of land will be allocated for a community hall and recreation centre for advocates.

 

7. Housing plots will be allocated for eligible advocates in district headquarters.
8. Advocates will be appointed as Special Magistrates in Fast Track Courts.

 

9. A Judicial Academy will be established to impart training to advocates.
10. Health insurance will be provided to Advocates and their families.
11. Number of courts will be increased to speed up the settlements of cases.

 

17. Journalist Welfare

 

 

Media, which is also called the fourth pillar of democracy, played a crucial role in Telangana formation. The journalists working for both print and electronic media have promptly highlighted the injustice with Telangana and also reported the sacrifices made by Telangana activists. They activated the Telangana movement with their writings and views. However, the journalists’ community remained in a state of neglect during the last four years under TRS regime.

 

If the Congress party is voted to power then it will implement the following promises:

 

1. 200 crore fund will be established for the welfare of Journalists.
2. Pension will be given to all journalists on reaching 58 years.
3. Housing plots will be allotted to both working and non-working journalists. They will get accidental insurance of Rs. 10 lakh. They will also get pension on retirement.

 

4. The pension amount for widows of journalists will be increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000.

 

5. By implementing the Working Journalists Act, the journalists working in electronic media will also be brought under its purview.

 

6. A journalists’ welfare fund will be constitution and welfare activities will be taken up after forming an organisation compromising of senior journalists.

 

7. Land and funds will be allotted for the construction of a building of Hyderabad Press Club.

 

8. Legislation will be done to make attack on journalists as a non-bailable offence.
9. Training Centres will be established through Press Academy and steps will be taken to provide placements through these centres.

 

10. Minimum Wages will be ensured for all journalists in consultation with the managements of media houses. Steps will be taken to provide job security.

 

11. Freedom of Press will be protected.

 

 

18. Gulf Migrant Works/NRIs

 

The role played by Gulf migrant workers in Telangana movement cannot be ignored. They include a large number of SC, ST, BC and minorities. They created awareness on the importance of statehood by organising Bathukamma, Bonalu and other festivals in foreign countries. They had hopes that after formation of Telangana, the State Government will take care of them and their families back home.

 

KCR had promised to set up a Rs. 100 crore fund for Gulf Migrant Workers. However, this was not honoured. All other promises made by the TRS Government with Gulf

 

migrant workers remained unfulfilled although the State has been earning about Rs. 1500 crore by way of Foreign Exchange and other remittances through lakhs of Gulf Migrant Workers and NRIs. Minister KTR, who heads the NRI affairs ministry, and Lok Sabha MP K. Kavitha who regularly attended stage shows in Gulf and other countries did nothing for their welfare.

 

The Congress Government promises to resolve all the problems being faced by nearly 10 lakh Migrant Workers working in Gulf and other countries.

 

1. A comprehensive NRI policy will be announced within 100 days of coming to power.
2. A fund of Rs. 500 Crore will be set up to help the migrant workers.
3. An ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh will be paid to the families of those workers who die due to various diseases either in Gulf or after they return to their native place. This will be applicable if death occurs within six months after they return home.

 

4. The Gulf migrant workers, who are forced to return home due to ill-health, will get a health insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh.

 

5. TOMCOM will be removed from Labour Department and brought under the NRI Corporation.

 

6. A Gulf Workers Corporation will be established and legal aid would be provided to migrant labourers and NRIs who are lodged in Gulf jails.

 

7. The names of Gulf migrant workers would be continued on ration cards and they would be eligible to get benefits under Aarogyasri Scheme.

 

8. A new scheme ‘Pravasi Yogakshema’ will be introduced to ensure life, accidental and health insurances and pension to migrant workers.

 

9. Food Security, Pension and Aarogya Sri Scheme will be extended to Gulf Migrant workers.

 

10. A toll free Helpline number will be started.
11. Assistance will be provided through Secretariat to the NRIs who wish to purchase property in Telangana.

 

12. On the lines of USA, a master list of all NRIs and Migrant workers will be prepared to learn, understand and resolve their problems.

 

13. If Gulf Migrant Workers convey their problems through social media networks like Facebook and WhatsApp, immediate action will be taken on them.

 

14. Activities of fake agents will be nailed.
15. A mobile App will be prepared to enlighten the migrant workers on the English and Arabic languages and also their culture and traditions.

 

16. Telugu-speaking officials will be deployed in the Indian embassies in Gulf.
17. Skill building programmes will be taken up to encourage youth from seeking self-employment within the country.

 

18. NGOs in Gulf countries will be organised and motivated to work for the welfare of workers and restrain from politics.

 

19. To prevent human trafficking, a constant vigil will be kept besides creating awareness.

 

20. The charges of Rs. 4,000-5,000 for ‘GAMCA’ medical check-up, essential for workers going for work in Gulf countries, will be borne by the government.

 

21. Bank loans will be arranged for the workers to bear expenses of amount they pay to recruiting agencies and other service charges.

 

22. A special NRI cell will be established in all the District Collectorates of Telangana.
23. A scientific study will be undertaken through Centres at all universities to ascertain the reasons leading to migration.

 

24. The National Academy of Constructions (NAC) Centres will be strengthened by establishing a skill development centre in all the sub-divisions.

 

25. Social Security will be provided on the lines of Kerala and Punjab States.
26. Pravasi Telangana Diwas will be organised every year.
27. Pravasi Telangana NGOs will be identified and they will be involved to solve the problems of migrant workers.

 

28. Gulf Facilitation Centres will also be established to provide required access and help to all the migrant workers at times of their need.

 

29. Efforts will be made to establish Saudi and UAE consulates in Hyderabad.

 

19. Child Rights – Welfare

 

Today’s children are citizens of tomorrow. Like other citizens, children too have some rights. As a society, it is our duty to protect the rights of children and take measures to ensure their proper growth. For a society to grow, it is essential that the children are provided protection, care and justice. It is also our responsibility that we take care of abandoned children, eradicate child labour and protect children from sexual or other kinds of abuse. Today child labour has emerged a major challenge. However, this has turned into a socio-economic issue as parents are living below poverty line.

 

Present NDA Government at the Centre and TRS Government in Telangana has failed to address several problems concerning children. If Congress comes to power in next elections, it will strictly implement all the law for the protection, welfare and development of children.

 

1. All children going to government schools will be given Scholarships of Rs. 300 to 500.
2. Bal Bhavan will be constructed in all district headquarters and they will be provided required funds and staff.

 

3. A Children’s Academy will be constituted. Right to Education Act will be amended and it will be extended for children between 3-18 years of age.

 

4. An Education Commission will be formed to improve the standard of education for children.

 

5. Laws will be strictly implemented to end child labour. Services of NGOs will be engaged for the purpose.

 

6. Chid Marriage Act 2006 will be amended to complete ban marriage of girls below the age of 18 years.

 

7. Blind children will be provided Braille writing material and glasses.
8. For children with hearing disabilities, tutors will be appointed to train them in speaking in sign language and they will also be supplied hearing aid.

 

9. A State Commission for Children’s Right will be constituted. A committee for Children welfare will be constituted in every district and special hostels will be established for orphans.

 

10. Sports Stadium with modern infrastructure will be constructed for children.
11. Fast Track Courts to dispose cases pertaining to children will be set up in all districts.
12. Orphans will get free health insurance till they get a job.
13. Eminent psychologists and other experts will be hired to motivate school children.
14. State Orphanages will be run through NGOs.

 

20. Physically Handicapped Welfare

 

It is easier to get success if one gets opportunities and facilities. But if someone achieves success in special circumstances like physical disability and the difficulties it becomes history. Stephen Hawking, Helen Keller, Louis Braille, Sudha Chandran are some of the examples. Mariyappan Thangavelu brought laurels for the country by winning three gold medals in Para Olympics. Their success is not only inspiration for physically handicapped persons, but also for all common men. The next Congress Government will make efforts that physically handicapped persons in Telangana achieve something big in their lives.

 

According to the Intensive Household Survey (IHS), there are 5.1 lakh physically handicapped persons in Telangana State. It is regrettable that the benefit of several schemes does not reach the physically handicapped persons. The TRS Government has failed to provide economic empowerment to physically handicapped persons. The previous Congress regimes used to give ‘Antodaya Cards’ to physically handicapped persons to give them free ration through PDS. But this was not implemented by the TRS Govt. Promises made with physically handicapped persons in Right to Education Act, political reservations, legislation to provide special education for handicapped women remained unimplemented.

 

The Congress party on being voted to power will come up with a comprehensive plan for the welfare of physically handicapped persons.

 

1. Visually impaired employees will be given housing facility.

 

2.Special programmes will be organised on the occasion of Braille Jayanti on January 4 and Helen Keller Jayanti on June 27.

 

3. A community hall will be constructed for the blind persons.
4. CPS will be cancelled for visually challenged employees.
5. A special residential school will be set up forvisually challengedpersons.
6. Roster points for physically handicapped persons will be reduced from 56 to
8. A separate commission will be set up for physically handicapped persons.

 

8. Physically Handicapped Persons will get a monthly pension of Rs.3,000.
9. Physically handicapped players and artists will be given a pension of Rs.10,000 per month.

 

10. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill – 2016 will be strictly implemented.
11. Severely handicapped persons will be given battery wheel chair.
12. Accidental insurance of Rs. 5 lakh to Physically Handicapped Persons.
13. A legislation will be brought to prevent abuse or harassment of Physically Handicapped Persons for their disabilities by anyone, on the lines of SC, ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act.

 

14. A study circle will be set up in all districts for Physically Handicapped Persons.
15. They will be entitled for free power supply up to 200 units.
16. Cash Free treatment for those affected with spinal cord diseases at rehabilitation centres.

 

17. Junior Colleges will be established for Deaf and Dumb persons.

 

18. Physically Handicapped Persons will be given 35 KG fine rice.
19. Special funds will be set up for Physically Handicapped Persons.
20. All backlog vacancies under Physically Handicapped quota will be filled.

 

21. Transgender/Third Gender

 

Third Gender people are born with no sex due to some genetic disorders. They are facing huge discrimination and rejection in the society. According to a survey conducted by Human Rights Commission, many people do not respect Third Gender people and do not provide them job opportunity. While neighbouring States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala have separate boards for the welfare of Third Gender, TRS Government did nothing to address this critical and sensitive issue.

 

The Congress party, if voted to power, will take measures to ensure a respectable life for Third Gender people.

 

1. Third Gender people will be given Constitutional Rights.
2. They will be trained in professional courses and encouraged to take up self-employment schemes.

 

3. They will be given monthly pension of Rs. 3,000.
4. They will be provided houses under Indiramma Housing scheme.
5. Steps will be taken to ensure that they get loans and other financial assistance to live a respectable life in the society.

 

22. SENIOR CITIZENS

 

It is the basic responsibility of the government to provide all facilities including food, health, security, entertainment centres, etc., for the Old Age Persons. The responsibility of taking care of elders falls on entire society. They need special care and attention. However, TRS Government has completely neglected the welfare of Senior Citizens. Therefore, Congress party, when voted to power in next elections will implement the following:

 

1. 50% seats in RTC buses will be reserved for Senior Citizens.
2. Persons of 58 years will be eligible to get pension.
3. Present pensionamount will be increased from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,000 per month.
4. All eligible persons in the family will be eligible to get pension.
5. Special budget will be implemented as per the Central Act.
6. Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 will be implemented by setting up Tribunals in all district.

 

7. Old Age Homes will be established in PPP mode or by involving NGOs.

 

23. Irrigation

 

TRS Government has resorted to huge irregularities and mismanagement of entire irrigation sector. It imposed unnecessary burden on public exchequer in the name of Re-Designing of Projects.

 

Telangana could have effectively utilised the Krishna and Godavari River waters to be benefit all districts by spending minimum amount. However, in the name of re-designing, TRS Government wasted thousands of crores of public money.

 

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella project, which was started during previous Congress regime in 2008, was shelved although thousands of crores were already spent on it. Huge financial burden was imposed on people in name of Kaleshwaram Project.

 

The Congress party will give priority to completion of pending irrigation projects which were started during previous Congress regime.

 

1. B.R. Ambedkar Sujala Sravanthi Panahita Chevella project will be revived and a 148-metre barrage will be constructed at Tummadi Hatti to take water through gravity till Yellandu. This will benefit areas in erstwhile Adilabad district which are now part of Kommaram Bheem and Mancherial district.

 

2. The height of Kaleshwaram Barrage at Medigadda will be raised by 101 Metres to increase the reservoir level by taking support from Maharashtra Government.

 

3. Water from Tummadi Hatti will be taken to Yellampalli Barrage by using modern technology to ensure that Telangana farmers get irrigation facilities at low cost.

 

4. The total capacity of Yellampalli Project is 63 TMC. However, the previous government was unable to make full utilisation of this water. Therefore, a scientific method would be applied to take this water to Peddapalli, Karimnagar and Sircilla district to meet the irrigation and drinking water needs.

 

5. Water from 148-Metre Yellampalli Project will be taken to 330-Metre SRSP through reverse pumping under Shakehand Barrage Steve Ladder System (CHECK THIS)

 

6. Water Transport will be made a reality by extending National Water Highway – 4 from Bhadrachalam to SRSP by involving concerned States and Union Ministry for Water Resources. This will ensure preservation of Godavari River and also provide employment to fishermen community.

 

7. An agreement will be signed with Maharashtra Government for construction of ‘Hand Shake Barrage’ from Tummadi Hatti to Kaleshwaram on Pranahita River to fetch irrigation and power.

 

8. Experts advice will be taken on the reservoir capacity of Kaleshwaram Project and it would be reviewed afresh.

 

9. The pumping system in Kaleshwaram Project will be reviewed and pumps will be changed to draw more water.

 

10. Tributary Canals and ODF will be constructed to provide water to new ayacut of Kaleshwaram Project.

 

11. The height of Medigadda Barrage will be increased up to 101 Metres in cooperation with Government of Maharashtra to enhance the availability of water.

 

12. Shakehand Barrage will be constructed from Godavari River to Maniar (LMD) to ensure availability of water in Maniar River so as to help the farmers.

 

13. B.R. Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Project will be extended to benefit the farmers of Ranga Reddy and Chevella.

 

14. The interest of Nizam Sagar ayacut farmers will be protected by cancelling the GO 885/17 which was issued by TRS Government allotting 15 TMC of water from SRSP ayakut to Mission Bhagiratha.

 

15. A total of 4.5 TMC water will be provided to irrigate 45,000 acres of land through Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (Kanepally) which was constructed during Congress regime in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh.

 

16. PV Narasimha Rao Kantanapally Sujala Sravanti Project: In order to utilise 100 TMC of water from Indravati, a tributary of Godavari River, it is essential to construct

 

Kantanapally Project. The TRS Government had stopped this project as a part of conspiracy. This project will be resumed.

 

17. A multi-purpose national irrigation project will be constructed at Achampally by taking neighbouring States Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra and the Central Government into confidence.

 

KRISHNA RIVER

 

1. The share of undivided Andhra Pradesh in Krishna River was 811 TMC. However, due to its wrong policies and approach, TRS Government has agreed to take just 299 TMC which caused huge damage to the interest of Telangana. The next Congress Government will pressurise the Krishna Water Tribunal to allocate water to Telangana as per the decision of Bachawat Tribunal and it would get additional water from the projects constructed on Krishna River.

 

2. In order to ensure full utilisation of water from AMR-SLBC project, the works on canals will be completed on war-footing basis so as to provide water through gravity for irrigation in Nalgonda district and also to provide safe drinking water to Fluoride affected areas.

 

3. Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Project will be re-designed to remove deficiencies from the proposals made by KCR. As much as 2 TMC of water from Srisailam Project Backwaters will be drawn daily through pumping, without any major financial implications. This will irrigate 10 lakh acres in erstwhile Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda district. Measures will also be taken on war-footing basis to provide drinking water to twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad from this project.

 

4. Dindi Lift Irrigation Scheme will be allotted 1 TMC of water so as to supply water, through Srisailam Project on pumping system basis, to Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts and also to fill tanks Narayanpur, Ibrahimpatnam and Maheshwaram.

 

5. Drip Irrigation will be encouraged in the jurisdictions of Lift Irrigation Projects.

 

6. TSIDC is not functioning properly and therefore, it will be merged with Irrigation Department to create a better Water Management System.

 

7. A plan will be prepared to provide irrigation facilities through Gaura Velli Balancing Reservoir Devadula.

 

8. In order to utilise 60 TMC from Devadula Project, works on construction of canals will be completed through Distributory Network and Field Channels.

 

 

MEDIUM IRRIGATION PROJECTS:

 

1. A plan will be devised to complete the medium irrigation projects like Golavagu, Relivagu, Kommaram Bheem, Palemvagu, Mondikunta Vagu, Kenarasani, etc.,), which were started during previous Congress regime, to provide irrigation facilities to farmers.

 

Minor Irrigation Projects:

 

1. Lakes and small tanks are of huge importance in Telangana. TRS Government has wasted thousands of crores of rupees in the name of revival of lakes. The Congress Government will make a comprehensive plan to for desiltation of lakes, removal of mud, prevent their catchment areas from encroachment and repair of nalas. This will be done to enhance irrigation facilities for farmers and also to protect the environment.

 

2. The revival of lakes will be done under the supervision of Gram Panchayats wherein local farmers, Women Self Help Groups will be involved. The rural youth will be provided bank loans to buy Poclains to carryout cleaning of lakes and related activities. This will also generate employment opportunities for rural youth.

 

Smart Water Management and Protection of Water Resources

 

1. Four Water Concept, recommended by Dr. Hanumantha Rao, will be implemented in all rural Assembly constituencies to preserve Ground Water. A major segment of cultivation in Telangana is dependent on borewells which is often causing drop in ground water levels. Absence of means and system to preserve rain water is leading to shortage of water for irrigation consequently resulting in drought. Congress Government will work out a permanent solution to overcome drought situation.

 

2. A comprehensive and stable water policy will be drafted to manage major, medium and minor projects and lakes in a scientific manner. An independent committee comprising of experts from government and non-government sectors will be constituted for the purpose. The committee will submit an annual report on water management and the government will draft its policies based on committee’s findings and recommendations.

 

24. Industries

 

Industries play an important role in the economic and technical growth of a State. The welfare of the society is possible only through industrial development which has been proved by many developed nations. Five Year Plans had played a crucial role in boosting

 

industrialisation of the nation, including Telangana. Previous Congress regimes had established several industries in Telangana. The credit of existence of several major industries in Telangana also goes to the Congress party. There are various industries located in and around Hyderabad. IT, Pharma, Engineering, Goods, Defence and other industries have registered huge growth and provided employment to thousands of people.

 

However, TRS Government has failed to capatalise the existence of strong industrial base in Hyderabad and other parts of the State. The much TS-iPass policy remained totally ineffective and failed to attract investments.

 

The next Congress Government will come up with a comprehensive industrial policy to boost small, medium and large industries and their allied sectors.

 

1. 50,000 acres of land will be allocated for establishment of Special Economic zones (SEZs) across the Telangana State. 10% of area in SEZs will have integrated complexes with facilities like residential blocks, hospital, food courts, etc.,

 

2. To attract foreign investments in present and yet to be established SEZs, 100% tax exemptions will be offered to investors.

 

3. The SEZs will have residential townships, dry ports, dormitory, skill development centres, solar plants, etc.,

 

4. Special incentives will be announced for:

 

Electrical Vehicle Policy

Energy Storage Policy

Artificial Intelligence Policy

Silicon Photonic Policy

Production of Lithium Batteries

Big Data Analytics Policy

 

5. A modern design engineering and computing centre will be established for Aerospace, Defence, Manufacturing and Design industries. Adibatla Aero-Space Park will be developed on 5 lakh sft of land in the first phase with the help of DRDL-RCI.

 

6. About 1.5 lakh jobs will be created in National Investment Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) at Zaheerabad in the next 10 years. Establishment of industries will be commenced after completing the land acquisition process.

 

7. Railway Coach Factory at Qazipet and Steel Plant at Bayyaram will be turned into a reality to provide lakhs of jobs.

 

8. Nizam Sugar Factory, IDPL, Reyans and other sick industries will be revived to create employment opportunities for the youth.

 

9. An international trade fair will be organised every year. A trading centre will be set up in Hyderabad to boost export of products manufactured in Telangana.

 

10. With the assistance from National Highway Authority, a multi-level logistics park will be constructed.

 

11. By bringing necessary changes, present T-Hubs will be improved further.
12. Telangana Start-up Cum Enterprises Scheme with Rs. 500 Crore funds will be introduced to promote start up companies through incubator centres with the help from IIT-Hyderabad, NIT- Warangal, JNTU and Osmania University. Loans up to Rs. 25 lakh @ 4% interest rate will be provided to start-up companies.

 

13. Loans up to Rs. 2 lakh taken by poultry farmers will be waived off.
14. Silk industry will be promoted by giving it the status of Special Industry.
15. Of 600 people who were displaced due to land acquisition, as many as 161 people did not get a job. Steps will be taken to provide them employment on immediate basis.

 

16. Loans sanctioned for micro, small and medium businesses will be released within three months. Special budget will be allotted. MSME will be linked with agriculture and a special energy tariff will be announced for it.

 

17. Special Property Tax slab will be introduced for Micro and Medium industries. Tax arrears and other dues of industries which have shut down will be waived off if they are revived.

 

18. Drinking water for industries will be charge domestic tariff.
19. Double bed room houses will be provided for industrial workers in the housing colonies to be constructed near the industries. To promote MSMEs, power tariff will be fixed at Rs. 350 per unit.

 

20. Special fund and policy will be introduced for medium scale industries.
21. Industrial incentives will be released within three months without any delays.
22. Free power will be supplied to micro industries.
23. To free small traders from the clutches of private financiers, daily loans (Overdraft) from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 will be provided through banks.

 

24. Small level industries will be given power subsidy.
25. Free power will be supplied to private nurseries.
26. Special Exit Policy will be introduced for small and medium industries.
27. Domestic tariff will be charged for small and medium industries.
28. Single window policy will be introduced for manufacturing industry.
29. Pension will be given to the owners of small and medium businesses who suffered losses.

 

30. Eligible employees and workers of industries will be provided double bed room houses.

 

31. Dumping Yards will be set up for industrial waste.
32. Big industries will be given incentives based on Load Factor.
33. Special Industrial Parks will be established around Outer Ring Road.
34. Steps will be taken to prevent ground pollution due to pharma industries.

 

35. Bhadradari, Yadadri power projects will be reviewed.
36. ITIR project:

 

The previous UPA Government had sanctioned Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) to attract investment and create employment in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar and Nalgonda districts. However, TRS Government failed to get funds from the Centre for ITIR and it remained a non-starter. This project would have created nearly 52 lakh jobs.

 

Soon after coming to power, Congress Government will revive and launch the project.

 

24. Labour Department

 

Post industrial revolution, the capitalist systems have exploited the labourers and workers to increase their profit margins. The labourers were forced to work in inhuman conditions without providing them basic minimum facilities. Following agitations against this exploitation, several laws were enacted to provide justice to the labourers.

 

Congress party is committed to provide all facilities and rights to the labourers and vows to improve their working conditions and personal lives if voted to power in next elections.

 

1. Road Transport Corporation will be merged with State Government and its staff will be paid salaries on government employees. Parents of RTC employees will be eligible for pension and Aarogyasri benefits. Their families will get health security and children get proper education.

 

2. In States like Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, 27% of budget is allocated for Gram Panchayats. Same module will be adopted in Telangana.

 

3. On the lines of Karnataka, Telangana Government will regularise the services of employees working in Gram Panchayats.

 

4. Mechanical labourers will be recognised as unorganised sector and they will be extended same benefits being given by the Central Government to construction labourers. Minimum wages will be assured to mechanics working in various showrooms.

 

5. Rights of workers employed in commercial institutions, corporate houses, shops and online marketing will be protected as per Labour Laws.

 

6. The labourers in unorganised sector will be given Health Insurance of Rs. 5 lakh.

 

 

7. For Auto rickshaw Drivers and Private Drivers, a Transport Workers Welfare Board will be established. They will be provided training, education and health facilities and their rights will be protected.

 

9. Social security will be provided to workers and labourers of construction industry.

 

10. By imposing 3% tax on Automobile Spare Parts, the mechanical labourers will be provided EPF and ESI and those who completed the age of 60 will be given pensions.

 

11. Centres will be established in Hyderabad to impart training in automobile, mechanic, plumber, drivers, computer operator, mobile repairing, etc., Licence will be issued on the basis of Aadhar for those not having educational qualification.

 

12. Auto-drivers will be permitted to decide the fare during peak hours, on par with cab services.

 

13. Minimum Fare for auto-rickshaws will be increased.

 

14. Electronic cabs and electric auto rickshaws will be provided on concessional prices.

 

15. Electronic Two-wheelers will be provided on subsidy for Delivery Boys.

 

16. 2-3,000 small industries will be established in every district.

 

17. The small industries will be provided sheds on nominal rent.

 

18. To promote entrepreneurship, a group of 10 persons will be provided loans of Rs. 1-

• crore with 25% subsidy.

 

19. Of these loans, 50% will be given to SC and STs and 35% to BCs.

 

20. If the loanees clear 10% of the loan amount, then the State Government will help them in clearing the remaining loan amount.

 

21. Manual Scavenging will be completely removed through a legislation. Safai Karamchari (cleaning staff) will be given 10% quota in housing schemes.

 

22. Agricultural labourers will be extended the same facilities as they are being to unorganised sector like construction labourers.

 

23. Agricultural labourers will be brought under the purview of Labour Welfare Board.

 

24. A comprehensive legislation will be enacted for Hammali labourers.

 

25. Rights will be provided to the domestic servants.

 

26. A comprehensive survey will be done on Beedi Workers in Telangana State.

 

27. Beedi workers will be brought under the purview of ESI.

 

28. Monthly pension of Rs. 2,000 will be given to Non-PF, PF, temporary and Vardi Beedi workers.

 

29. Legislation will be done to eliminate the system of contract employment. The present contract employees will be regularised as per the rules and regulations.

 

30. Labour Department will be strengthened by deploying required additional staff.

 

31. Residential colonies will be constructed for the workers of unorganised sector. The existing colonies and basthis will be provided all basic amenities.

 

Former Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi is the pioneer of IT revolution in India. The first software industry and IT Department was introduced under the regime Shri. Rajiv Gandhi Ji. Since then, India has been growing in the IT field and today IT professionals and engineers from India have achieved a dominant position across the world.

 

Steps will be taken to boost the IT exports and investments by offering various sops like subsidised owner and tax exemptions.

 

1. A special traffic and signal management system will be introduced to ease the movement of IT professionals.

 

2. Steps will be taken to provide job security to IT professionals.

 

3. Special training will be provided to the employees who are in the profession since 15 years by setting up Skills Development Committee.

 

4. Employees working in Start-up IT companies will be provided Health Cards.

 

5. Youth will be encouraged to take up entrepreneurship by launching their own company. Universities will be linked with industries. Counselling Centres will be set up to resolve the problems of IT employees.

 

6. It will be mandatory for the IT companies to pay three months salary as Grace Compensation to lay off the employees on instant basis.

 

7. Managements will be convinced not to depute women software employees in night shifts.

 

25. Sinagreni

 

The employees of Singareni Collieries have played a significant role in formation of Telangana State. They were active in statehood movement since 1969. The coal workers of Singareni have a long history of fighting against slavery, goondaism and other injustices. Their participation in the statehood movement gave a major boost to the agitation and motivated the masses to support the demand.

 

However, the Singareni employees and their families have been cheated by the TRS Government. If voted to power in next elections, the Congress party, proposes to implement the following:

 

1. Workers who were removed from service unfairly may be given a second chance as per the report.

 

2. Pattas will be issued for housing. Repairs and painting of quarters will be done once in a year.

 

3. Free higher education will be given to the children of Singareni employees.
4. Irregularities in Singareni appointments will be stopped and those involved in irregularities in previous recruitments will be punished and justice will be done with eligible persons.

 

5. One family member of employees who are declared unfit in the medical test conducted by the company will be given job.

 

6. Social security will be provided to the employees who took Voluntary Retirement.

 

7. Family members of Singareni workers will be given jobs and other facilities.
8. Eligible persons will be given housing loans up to Rs. 15 lakh.

 

9. Income Tax exemption limit will be increased up to Rs. 5 lakh.
10. Each Singareni worker will be allotted 150 square yards of land belonging to Singareni Company.

 

11. Contract and Outsourcing employees will be salaries on par with regular employees, as per the orders of the High Court.

 

 

26. Panchayat Raj/Rural Development

 

Mahatma Gandhi had stated that real India lives in her seven and half lakhs of villages. Congress party also believes in Gandhi Ji’s views. Country and State will become strong only if we ensure self rule in rural areas. TRS Government never honoured or implemented the Panchayat Raj system and destroyed the concept of local self government. The powers of elected Sarpanches were snatched away in the name of Farmers Coordination Committee.

 

On coming to power, the Congress party will implement the Panchayat Raj institutions and restore the powers of elected representatives.

 

1. All powers will be divulged to Panchayat Raj and municipal institutions as per the Amendments made in Act 72 and 72 of the Constitution of India.

 

2. Vocational Training and Technical Training Centres will be established at all district headquarters to train jobless youth in skills like electrician, para-medic, plumbing, carpenter, security guard, housekeeping, super market helper, etc.,

 

3. For dairy farmers, incentive of Rs. 5 per litre will be given.
4. RO plants will be installed in all villages to provide safe drinking water.
5. Regularisation of services of Gram Panchayat staff will be considered.
6. Contract employees of DRDA & MGNREGS will be regularized as per norms.

 

7. HR policy will be implement for employees working under MGNREGS scheme.
8. Steps will be taken to provide monthly salaries to staff working for repair of pumps in RWS Dept

 

9. Eligible employees of Gram Panchayats will be promoted as Panchayat Secretaries.

 

10. Steps will be taken to increase the MNREGS workers man days to 200.
11. Decisions for developmental works in rural areas will be approved by Gram Sabhas.

 

12. The details of expenditure on various developmental works will be presented in Gram Sabhas in a transparent manner.

 

13. The property tax being collected by TRS Govt in rural areas will be reduced. Tax on vacant land will be completely removed.

 

14. Employees working with RWS will be given job protection and their pay will be on Equal Work, Equal Pay basis.

 

27. GHMC/ Urban Development

 

Almost 50% of population in Telangana State lives in cities and urban areas. There is huge possibility of growth in the cities in the next 10 years. There is a need to build huge

 

infrastructure to meet the needs of growing population. Besides providing basic amenities, the city also needs to be beautified. The Congress party, if voted to power, will implement the following programmes:

 

1. Housing facility will be provided to those living in slums and financial assistance will be given to those who wish to construct their house on their own plot.

 

2. Vendors and road-side traders will be given protection. Hawkers and street vendors will be issued licenses. Besides linking them with banks, the government will also help them increase their sales.

 

3. On par with other citizens, poor people living in slum areas will be provided all basis amenities like drinking water, quality power, education and health. Health cards will be issued all slum-dwellers.

 

4. Employees of Urban Municipal Corporations, who completed one year in service, will be protect and they will be given salaries on par with GHMC staff.

 

5. Special focus will be laid on construction of public utility buildings, drinking water, drainage, removal of water stagnation points, quality roads.

 

6. MMTS Phase-II will be started and will be extended from Shankarpally-Bhongir.
7. The second phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail project will be completed.
8. New footpaths will be constructed. Street lights will be improved. Street vendors will be provided 1500 sft by constructing complexes and will be issued licenses.

 

9. Technologies like Plasma gasification will be introduced in Hyderabad, Warangal, Nizamabad, Karimangar and other municipal corporations for waste management.

 

10. Musi River will be protected by constituting a new authority. Steps will be taken for beautification of Musi River.

 

11. Community toilets will be constructed in slum areas.
12. Old Age Homes will be constructed.
13. Land will be allotted religious places, Shamshan, Graveyards and other places of worship. Land will also be allotted for other social services.

 

14. Congress Government will ensure that roads are free from potholes.
15. Traffic signals will be installed at new junctions.
16. Traffic personnel will be compulsory deputed on roads during peak hours.
17. As per the Urban Development Policy, cinema halls, malls, high rise buildings will be constructed outside Outer Ring Road.

 

18. Special funds will be release for filling up potholes.
19. Modern houses will be constructed for slum dwellers under group housing scheme.
20. Street vendors and small traders will be issued trade licences and they will be bank loan facility.

 

21. Street vendors and small traders will be given Health Insurance and Service Cards.
22. CCTV cameras of international standards will be installed on all important locations, roads and public places.

 

23. Services like telephone, electricity, passport, caste certificate, birth certificate, death services, etc., will be delivered from one place.

 

24. Special measures will be taken to control the mosquito menace.
25. GHMC will be declared as local government and it will bestow with all powers and fund.

 

26. Slum Development Authority will be constituted for the overall development of slum areas.

 

27. Services of ‘Safai Karamcharis’ (cleaning staff) will be regularised.

 

 

28. Road, Rail & Transport

 

There is a need to improve the conditions of road and transport system to meet the needs of growing population in Telangana. In order to improve the transport administration, it is compulsory to take measures for the welfare of staff in transport department. Although the staff of Transport Department actively participated in Telangana movement, TRS Govt did nothing for their welfare.

 

Besides public transport, there has been a significant growth in number of auto-rickshaws, cars and other vehicles plying on the roads. The Congress party will implement the following measures to boost the entire sector:

 

1. A Welfare Board will be established with a fund of Rs. 100 crore.
2. Efforts will be made to reduce the premium of auto-insurance.
3. Decision on promotion of Transport Dept employees will be taken soon.
4. Rail and Road Development Corporation under Transport Ministry will be formed.
5. A committee will be formed to study the possibility of getting a new railway line in every district.

 

6. Steps will be taken to have single permit for both Telugu States for cabs and buses.
7. 24-hour online permit system will be introduced for tour and travel operators.
8. Measures will be taken to prevent accidents using Road Rumble Streams
9. Transport staff will be given double bed room, accreditation cards and health cards.
10. Single tax policy will be implemented for all contract carriage buses in HMDA limits
11. Telangana will become a part of Gentlemen Agreement of Southern States for contract carriage buses

 

12. AP-Telangana Border Tax and other taxes will be reviewed for contract buses

 

13. Hitech parking facilities will be provided at historical and tourists places.
14. Drunken driving will be dealt very strictly.
15. Metro Rail ticket prices will be reviewed.
16. MMTS line will be expanded.

 

29. Police Welfare

 

Development of a State is possible only where there is total peace and Law & Order. To maintain this, police personnel work on 24×7 basis. However, due to extreme work pressure police personnel are facing severe health and mental stress related problems. There is a need to recruit police personnel in proportion to rise in population. Due to non-filling of required number of posts in the last four years, thousands of posts in police department are lying vacant. This has increased the work burden on existing force.

 

Congress strongly believes that the work pressure on police personnel should be reduced and they too must get some leisure time to spend with their families. Therefore, the next Congress Government will give priority to the welfare of police personnel:

 

1. One day weekly off to police will be implemented.
2. They will undergo medical examination once in 3-6 months.
3. They will be given counselling and training to improve their interaction and communication with common people.

 

4. Issues concerning Traffic policemen will be reviewed once in 6 months.
5. Salary for 20,000 Home Guards will be increased from Rs.21,000 to Rs.25,000.
6. Steps will be taken to clear all pending promotions.

 

7. Gangster Nayeem case will be re-investigated through a sitting judge of High Court to bring out the truth and punish all the guilty persons.

 

30. Prohibition

 

At the time of formation of Telangana State, the income of Excise Department was Rs. 8,517 crore. Today, it has crossed Rs. 20,000 crore. This contributes to nearly 30% of total revenues of Telangana Government.

 

KCR, who had promised a Bangaru Telangana, has turned the State into a liquor den. In order to generate more revenue, KCR Govt spoiled the lives of thousands of people by attracting them towards liquor consumption. By making permit room compulsory along with all wine shops, thousands of belt shops were given approvals indiscriminately in violation of Supreme Court orders.

 

Foreign culture is being promoted to destroy the culture and traditions of Telangana. Indecent programmes like Playboy were being permitted where youth are spoiling their lives and careers in inebriated conditions.

 

While thousands of people are dying due to liquor consumption, KCR is shameless claiming Telangana to be Number 1 State with 17% growth rate.

 

The next Congress Government vows to free people from the addiction of liquor by implementing following measures:

 

1. All liquor shops and pubs will be regulated as per rules and regulations.
2. Permit Room and Belt Shops will be controlled.

 

3. Toddy will be encouraged so as to provide employment to toddy tappers.
4. Stern action will be taken against those involved in sale of Gudamba, adulterated liquor and drugs.

 

31. SPORTS

 

1. Sports will be promoted from KT to PG level to develop a comprehensive personality and physical growth of students. Measures will be taken for engaging Physical Education Teacher (PET) and Physical Director (PD) in each and every government and private school. Sports competitions will be held on regular basis in partnership with the Department of Sports and Local Youth Organizations at the Mandal and district level.

 

2. A residential sports college will be set up in every district.
3. Scouts, NCC and NSS training will be made compulsory in all government and private educational institutions.

 

4. Sports University will be established to promote all forms of sports.
5. The best performers will be given prizes by the government. For those who win medals for the country in Olympics, besides a cash reward of Rs. 1 crore, they will be given a government job and provided social security.

 

6. In order to promote sports at every district headquarters, stadiums will be constructed with facilities like gymnastics, gym, swimming pools and other modern facilities.

 

7. Each gram panchayat will be given a sports kit and a playground. Mini-stadium will be constructed in each assembly constituency.

 

32. Religious Sector

 

Congress party will take all measures to protect the sanctity of all temples in Telangana State. There is a need to take special of pujaris performing poojas in different temples through a comprehensive plan. Small temples will be developed to provide all facilities to the devotees. In addition, the Congress party will implement the following things if it wins next elections:

 

1. Free power supply will be given to all temples, mosques, churches and other places of worship.

 

2. Funds will be released for repair of temples, mosques and churches by introducing a proper system.

 

3. A survey will be done on the encroachments of land belonging to temples, mosques and churches and necessary legislation will be done to protect their properties.

 

4. Pujaris and staff of 643 temples will be provided accidental insurance.
5. Health cards will be issued the pujaris and staff of temples.

 

6. All temples, including those under private management, will be brought under the purview of Endowment Department.

 

7. The financial assistance being given to temples will be increased from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 9,000.

 

8. Pujaris who completed 58 years of age will be given Old Age Pension.
9. Funds will be provided to Vedic Schools for promotion and protection of Vedic religion.

 

10. Brahmins living Below Poverty Line will be provided all assistance and the budget of Brahmin Corporation will be increased to Rs. 200 crore.

 

11. Under Parishad Scheme for Brahmins’ welfare, the eligible income limit will be increased from Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in rural areas and from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 4 lakh in urban areas.

 

12. Children of pujaris working under Hindu Endowment will be given Fee Reimbursement benefits.

 

13. The stipend for poor students will be increased from Rs. 250 to Rs. 500. Instead of

• years, Vedic Pandits will be eligible to get Rs. 3,000 pension from the age of 58 years.

14. 25,000 will be given for the last rites of BPL Brahmins.
15. 3,000 pension will be given the BJP families of Brahmins.
16. After reviewing the rules and regulations of Dharam Parishad, necessary amendments will be introduced, if required.

 

17. Pujaris working in 643 temples will be given salaries on par with State Government staff. Pujaris and staff will also get accident insurance and health cards.

 

33. Folk Artists, Films and Culture

 

The role played by former Chief Minister late Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy in the development of Telugu film industry cannot be forgotten. In a similar fashion, there is a need to promote Telangana’s folk art like Burra Katha, Sindhu Katha. There is also a need to promote and encourage the folk artists of Telangana who played a key role in creating awareness among people during Telangana movement.

 

TRS Govt has cheated the artists, singers and other and did not implement the promises.

 

 

The Congress will take all measures to promote the artists, folk music and culture of Telangana. It will also encourage the film industry and motivate the film makers to make movies based on Telangana’s rich culture and tradition. The government will take measure to allot land for construction of a studio.

 

1. Telugu and Urdu Academies will be given funds for promotion of both the languages.
2. Measures will be taken to give wide publicity to Telangana Mandali.

 

3. Cultural centres like Ravindra Bharathi will be constructed in Warangal, Adilabad and Nalgonda.

 

4. Steps will be taken to promote folk arts like Burra Katha,
5. As many as 500 artists, who were appointed as Cultural Ambassadors of Telangana, are being paid a monthly honorarium of Rs. 24,514. The Congress Govt will increase this amount and it will be paid through State Treasury.

 

6. Vehicles, along with mike and sound system, will be provided for publicity of State Government’s welfare schemes.

 

7. A modern recording theatre will be established for the Cultural Ambassadors.
8. Service Book will be implemented and those who retired will be paid pension.
9. Based on their qualification, artists appointed as Cultural Ambassadors will be assigned other responsibilities (CHECH).

 

• Eligible artists will be given employment in a phased manner.

11. Artists will be given training on international standards.

 

12. Artists will be given quota in government jobs.
13. Prices of eatables in theatres will be controlled and they will be sold only on MRP.
14. Artists will be used to give publicity for programmes meant for public welfare, social change and government schemes.

 

15. Present tax system in theatres has been causing huge losses to film producers. This will be scrapped and a new effective system will be introduced.

 

16. Special shows will be permitted for screening of short-duration films.
17. A Government Film Institute will be established to impart technical training.
18. Telangana Movie Chambers will be established.
19. Telangana Govt will introduce new awards like Nandi Awards.
20. Financial assistance and land will be given for construction of new studios.
21. Films that highlight Telangana’s culture will be encouraged.

 

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34. TOURISM

 

Tourism sector will be developed to promote the language, culture and traditions of Telangana State. Research will be done to bring the rich historical heritage of Telangana

 

before the world. Old temples, monuments, forts will be promoted as tourists spots. Special measures will be taken to promote places like Kontala Waterfall in Adilabad, historical places of Karimangar and Warangal. TRS Govt has failed to promote tourism in Telangana during the last four years.

 

The next Congress Government will take up following measures to boost tourism in

Telangana:

 

1. Environmental tourism will be promoted in forest areas of Telangana.
2. Facilities like bio-toilets, changing rooms and dormitory will be provided at tourists’ destinations.

 

3. Wide publicity will be given to famous places of tourist attraction through national and international media. Social media will also be used to spread information pertaining to tourism.

 

4. Theme Parks will be established in Hyderabad and other districts.
5. A calendar will be released on tourism programme of State Govt.
6. Sports like Forest Hiking, Rappling, and mountain climbing will be promoted.
7. Special rules will be framed to promote places of religious importance like Hindu temples, mosques, churches, Buddhist temples, etc.,

 

35. ENVIROMENT

 

Congress party is committed to the protection of environment in Telangana. With the slogan of ‘Trees are our future’, Congress will launch programmes to turn Telangana into a State full of greenery. Special laws are needed to stop deforestation. Congress will strive hard to increase the green cover from present 26% to 35%.

 

1. A comprehensive Disaster Management Policy will be announced to deal with calamities like floods, heat wave, etc.,

 

2. It will be made compulsory in GHMC limits for new buildings to be constructed as per the norms of Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

 

3. Water harvesting system will be mandatory for all commercial and residential buildings.

 

4. A new scheme will be launched to promote use of solar power in all commercial and institutional complexes.

 

5. Electric bike and electric scooter will be provided at all important bus and metro stations.

 

6. A new policy will be introduced for 100% electric buses, electric cab and auto.
7. 111 will be strictly implemented.
8. Planting will be done on either sides of the road and measures will be taken for their protection.

 

9. Steps will be taken for protection of tress by involving rural people as volunteers.
10. Prior permissions will be necessary for cutting down of trees.
11. Plantation in catchment areas of rivers, tanks and streams will be encouraged.
12. New technology will be introduced to deal with industrial pollution.
13. Use of Jute and cloth bags will be made compulsory to discourage use of plastic bags or polythene.