KCR scraps VRA system, announces Rs 1 lakh sop for minorities

HYDERABAD: In two major decisions taken on Sunday, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao scrapped the Village Revenue Assistants (VRAs) system, and issued orders providing Rs 1 lakh financial assistance to minority communities with 100 per cent subsidy.

In a swift follow-up action, the Chief Minister announced that all incumbent VRAs in the revenue department would be allotted supernumerary posts after regularisation of their appointments. He directed the Chief Secretary to release an order to this effect on Monday.

The Chief Minister, who conducted a review meeting with officials on the issue, took the decisions based on the recommendations of the ministers’ sub-committee, which went into the issue.

After providing Rs 1 lakh assistance to BCs, the state government issued orders providing 'one lakh financial assistance to minority communities with 100 per cent subsidy. The Chief Minister said that the state government is putting in all efforts to eliminate poverty across sections. He reiterated that the state government is committed to the development and welfare of all minorities. In order to bring them out of economic backwardness, a slew of schemes have been implemented by the state government, including in education and employment creation, he said.

Chandrashekar Rao made it clear that the government would safeguard 'Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb' by supporting all cultures and traditions without any bias.

“Up to this year, the state government has spent Rs 8,581 crore on minority welfare. It has provided funds to the tune of Rs 1,286 crore for minorities in the 2021-22 financial year," he said.

In another development, the Chief Minister increased 30 per cent PRC (Pay Revision Commission) in salaries for contract and outsourcing employees of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB). The 30 per cent increase in PRC for contract and outsourcing employees of the HMWS&SB will see at least 4,000 of the board employees reaping benefits.

Chandrashekar Rao said that VRAs would be appointed as government employees and posted in the municipal office, Mission Bhageeratha, irrigation, and other departments based on their respective qualifications. “Keeping in mind the circumstances and social transmission, the government must take hard decisions to ensure job security to state government employees. It is towards this that the government has decided to regularise thousands of VRAs as government employees,” he said.

This implies that approximately 20,555 VRAs would get government jobs. Among the VRAs are illiterates, those who have studied till Class VII, Class X, Intermediate, graduates and postgraduates.

The Chief Minister also decided to provide government jobs to the kin of VRAs, who are above 61 years, under compassionate appointments. He also announced that government jobs would be given to one of the family members of VRAs who died while performing duties after June 2, 2014. 

Meanwhile, the government has framed guidelines for implementation of the Rs one lakh financial assistance to minorities. Applications that were received in the financial year 2022-23 through OBN4MS portal, but have been pending, will be considered in this fiscal.

Applications of Christians will be routed through Telangana State Christian minorities finance corporation.

The applicant must be aged between 21 and 55 years as on June 2, 2023. The annual income of the applicant shall not exceed Rs 1.50 lakh in rural areas and 'two lakh in the urban areas.

The district collector will take the approval of the district in-charge minister before coming up with a phase-wise selection list. The subsidy will be released as a one-time grant.

Meanwhile, the VRA JAC leaders have been urged to compile details of the families of the deceased VRAs. The kin would be accommodated in government jobs in the respective departments based on their qualifications and the rules.

Following the state government’s decision in providing Rs 1 lakh financial assistance for minorities, minority leaders met state planning commission vice chairman B. Vinod Kumar and extended their gratitude for issuing orders on Sunday.

Water board employees union president G. Rambabu Yadav and other leaders met the Chief Minister at the CM Camp office, Pragathi Bhavan and extended their gratitude for the decision.