Harish hints at more benefits for women, farmers and pensioners

Hyderabad: Finance minister T. Harish Rao on Saturday hinted at more benefits for women and farmers in the BRS’ election manifesto, which is expected to be released later this month.

Sources said that the plan was for Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to release the manifesto at a public meeting in Warangal. With Chandrashekar Rao recovering from illness, the party has not decided a date for the event.

Addressing a public meeting in Sangareddy, Harish Rao said the Chief Minister was working on the possibilities of increasing Rythu Bandhu assistance, Aasara pensions and financial assistance provided under the Kalyana Lakshmi scheme.

Farmers receive Rs 5,000 per acre per crop, totalling to Rs 10,000 per acre in a year. Under the Aasara scheme, the government currently disburses Rs 2,016 per month to senior citizens, widows, beedi workers, filaria victims, single women, handloom weavers, toddy tappers and AIDS victims, and Rs 3,016 per month to the differently abled.

The plan to increase aid comes after the Congress, which, as part of its six guarantees to the people of Telangana, promised to increase the pensions to widows and senior citizens to Rs 4,000 per month, along with other assurances including Rs 2,500 per month to women every month, Rs 15,000 to farmers every year, including tenant farmers, and Rs 12,000 a year to agricultural labourers.

The BJP meanwhile, has been tight-lipped about what its manifesto might include, given that as a policy, the party is against freebies, although its leaders had previously said that all current welfare schemes in Telangana will continue if it comes to power.