Health, education top focus: Revanth

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Monday that health and education remain the top priorities for the Congress government in Telangana.

Participating in the Arogya Utsavalu here on Monday, which was organised as part of the Praja Palana Vijayotsavalu to celebrated the Congress government’s first anniversary in office, the Chief Minister said the government has filled over 14,000 vacancies in the medical and health departments within a year.

He noted that he had personally handed over appointment letters to 7,750 paramedical staff at LB Stadium recently.

Revanth Reddy criticised the previous BRS government's handling of government medical colleges, stating that while colleges were opened in various districts, they were left inadequately staffed and ill-equipped. He reassured the public that the Congress government is actively addressing these deficiencies to ensure better facilities and faculty for these institutions.

The Chief Minister also praised Health Minister Damodara Rajanarasimha for his exemplary work and dedication to improving the state's healthcare system.

Revanth Reddy reiterated that youth played a pivotal role during the Telangana movement, and it was their aspirations that the Congress government was committed to fulfilling. He criticised the previous BRS government for question paper leakages during recruitment exams, pointing out that youth could only find jobs after the removal of BRS chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao and his family from power.

Highlighting the Congress government’s achievements, he claimed that no state in India had ever handed appointment letters to 50,000 selected candidates in a single year, a feat that Telangana has now accomplished.

The Chief Minister recalled his government's swift action in conducting the DSC teacher recruitment exams, despite political attempts to disrupt the process. He proudly announced that the government successfully completed the DSC recruitment process in just 55 days.

He said the state government will soon hand over appointment letters to the newly selected candidates through TGPSC Group-1 exams.

Revanth Reddy highlighted the reforms initiated by his government to improve the functioning of the Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC). He hit out at the previous BRS government's appointment of politically motivated individuals to key positions within the TSPSC, such as RMP doctors and deputy MROs. In contrast, he announced that the Congress government had appointed well-educated and qualified individuals to the commission, strengthening its credibility.

The Chief Minister also mentioned the significant improvements made to the Aarogyasri healthcare scheme, increasing the coverage limit to Rs 10 lakh, and ensuring that Vice Chancellors were appointed to state universities after a long gap of 10 years. He revealed that in the first year alone, his government had disbursed a record sum from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

He pointed out the success of the RTC free bus travel scheme, which has benefited over 1.15 crore women, and the provision of 200 units of free electricity to 50 lakh poor families.

Revanth Reddy also pointed out that the previous BRS government failed to dedicate the "Jaya Jayahe Telangana" song to the state. He accused the BRS government of neglecting the aspirations of the people of Telangana, particularly in relation to the installation of the Telangana Talli statue at the Secretariat, a demand that had remained unaddressed for years.

Revanth Reddy appealed to the people of Telangana to actively participate in the ongoing victory celebrations marking the first year of the Congress government. He urged the public to join in the festivities as a symbol of unity and support for the government’s ongoing commitment to the welfare and development of the state.