Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and his cabinet colleagues unveiled two poll 'guarantees' of the ruling Congress - supply of LPG cylinders for Rs 500 and free electricity supply of up to 200 units for the underprivileged, PTI reported. The schemes for electricity supply and subsidised LPG cylinders are called "Gruha Jyothi" and "Mahalaxmi," respectively.
Addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy highlighted Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's announcement last September, pledging six electoral 'guarantees' to the people of Telangana.
He also outlined the implementation of two schemes -- free travel for women in state-run RTC buses and Rajiv Arogya Sri (health scheme of Rs 10 lakh to the poor)-- acted upon two of these promises upon assuming office in December last year.
The government chose to begin the "Mahalaxmi" and "Gruha Jyoti" programs at the Secretariat instead of the public meeting at Chevella, near here, where AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was expected to be present. This was due to the implementation of a model code of conduct for a legislative council poll.
"While the UPA government had implemented a programme providing a gas cylinder for Rs 400, the government led by PM Narendra Modi made the LPG cylinder price as high as almost Rs 1,200," Reddy also said. "The previous BRS government in Telangana made no effort to provide relief to the common people despite the hike, but saw the rise in cylinder price as a source of revenue to the government through GST," he further added, PTI reported.
Telangana Govt To Implement Six Poll 'Guarantees': Revanth Reddy
Revanth Reddy expressed his government's commitment to the implementation of the six poll 'guarantees' by following a control on finances and avoiding unnecessary expenditure in view of the debt burden caused by the previous BRS government. He said, subtly criticising BRS, that people are not yet ready to accept the misleading information being disseminated about the welfare programs of the Congress government by "father and son."
He went on to quote Sonia Gandhi's "Inscription on a Stone," saying that his administration would see to it that the commitment is recorded in gold letters throughout history. Additionally, he declared that his administration will carry out welfare programs so that Telangana would serve as an example for the rest of the nation.
Regarding the payment mechanism for the 'Mahalaxmi' scheme, a Government Order (GO) outlined the state's monthly transfer of funds to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in advance. "The OMCs will transfer the subsidy amount by Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT) to the beneficiaries," it said. "This method of release of subsidy is on a pilot basis. The departments of Civil Supplies and Finance shall explore and come up with a model for delivery of a cylinder on payment of Rs.500 only," the GO said.