CM Revanth Launches Praja Palana Application Forms, Process Starts Today

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday launched the Praja Palana application forms, which would facilitate eligible people to avail of benefits under the Congress’ Six Guarantees, at the Secretariat. He said applications will be accepted from December 28 to January 6 across the state at grama/ward sabhas in all villages, towns, and cities.

Revanth Reddy said that while specialised counters would be set up till January 6, the process would be a continuous one and people could submit applications at a later date as well, at specified government offices.

Potential beneficiaries can apply for benefits under five schemes, except for the Yuva Vikasam guarantee, through these forms. Further, applications will also be accepted for new ration cards or other grievances faced by people, officials said.

Under available benefits currently are Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to women and Rs 500-gas cylinders under the Maha Lakshmi guarantee.

Under Rythu Bharosa, tenant farmers and agriculture labourers can apply for Rs 15,000 per acre per year and Rs 12,000 per acre per year financial aid, respectively.

Under the Indiramma Housing scheme, families of those who participated or died in the statehood struggle can apply for 250-square-yard plots.

Under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, people can apply for free power up to 200 units.

Under the Cheyutha scheme, widows, toddy tappers, weavers, dialysis patients, AIDS patients, beedi workers, filaria patients, single women, and beedi tekedars can apply for a monthly pension of Rs 4,000, while physically challenged people can apply for a monthly pension of Rs 6,000.

Addressing a press conference at the Secretariat, Revanth Reddy said that his government was committed to implementing the Six Guarantees promised: “in letter and spirit”. He said that even people without ration cards could apply for the scheme, even as ration cards were decided as the basis for determining eligibility.

“There should not be any confusion in the minds of the people. Every eligible person will get the benefits of the Six Guarantees. There is no need to panic. People without ration cards too can apply. Those who failed to submit applications during the Praja Palana programme will be provided an opportunity to do so later,” he said.

Revanth Reddy said Praja Palana was launched to ensure that the government reaches out to people, instead of forcing people to approach the government to get their grievances resolved.

“Thousands of people are queuing up at Praja Bhavan in Begumpet to air their grievances whenever Praja Vani is held on Tuesdays and Fridays. This proves that the previous BRS government was not available to the people in the past 10 years and the governance had not reached them. The hardships people faced in submitting their grievances could be seen as over 24,000 petitions have been received since December 8 in the Praja Vani programme, prompting the state government to take governance to the people, thus, avoiding the scope for difficulties to travel to Hyderabad from far-off places,” Revanth Reddy said.

The Chief Minister said sufficient counters would be opened to collect applications and separate counters would be set up for women. Every mandal would be divided into two parts, one to be headed by an MRO (mandal revenue officer) and the other by an MPDO (mandal parishad development officer).

“Each officer would visit two villages in one day. In villages where there are more people, more counters will be opened. Those who can’t apply at Grama Sabha can apply at Gram Panchayats too. This will be a continuous process and won’t stop on January 6,” he said, adding that people can submit applications at MRO offices or MPDO offices after January 6.

Separate counters would be made available for the people who prefer to submit grievances other than submitting the Praja Palana application form, he said.

Revanth Reddy said that Praja Palana was launched to ascertain the exact number of beneficiaries to be covered under various schemes. “Until the government has the exact figures of the beneficiaries, how can it provide benefits to them? With this, the government will know about the number of beneficiaries and funds required,” he said.

Revanth Reddy said the government already laid down a process of digitalising the grievances received at the Praja Bhavan by giving them a docket number and sending acknowledgment messages to the applicant. “A tracking system was put in place to know where the application reached and what was the action taken,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that steps are being taken to resolve issues within 100 days of receipt.