Hyderabad: Telangana CM-in-waiting K. Chandrasekhar Rao plans to earmark 50 per cent of the Rs 1 lakh crore budget for the five-year period Rs50,000 crore for the welfare of dalits, including providing a three-acre farm with borewell and agriculture pumpset.
To ensure that welfare gets top priority and for effective implementation, Mr Rao has decided to keep all the welfare departments like SC, ST, BC and minorities welfare under his control.
“My top priority is effective implementation of welfare schemes followed by irrigation and agriculture, power and industrialisation. Development of scheduled castes in all spheres is top on my agenda,” said Mr Rao.
Struggle for a separate Telangana gained momentum from 1968 after the failure of the Gentleman’s Agreement, flouting of Mulki rules in government employment, diversion of funds etc. After the violent agitation led by Dr M. Channa Reddy of 1969 wherein around 350 people were killed the 14-year agitation launched by Mr Rao since 2001 was by and large peaceful; yet around 1,100 youth, including many students, committed suicide for the cause of Telangana.
Mr Rao’s criticism of Seemandhra leaders, unique stirs like the Vanta Varpu (cooking food on streets), Million March, Telangana March, bandhs, rasta rokos, rail rokos, rallies, winning and losing electoral battles, patriotic songs like Jai Bolo Telangana, Jaya Jaya He Telangana, finally paved the way for the new state.
“I have to start from scratch. First I have to set up the administration, mobilise resources and focus on priority areas,” Mr Rao said.
The new TRS government has the tough task ahead of fulfilling a host of electoral promises in the manifesto and requires thousands of crores for waiver of crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh to farmers, two bedroom houses for weaker sections, free KG to PG education in residential schools, creating employment opportunities in government and private sector, completing pending irrigation projects and proper medicare etc.
Due credit should also be given to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for carving out Telangana despite stiff resistance from Seemandhra leaders and opponents within the party. However, the Congress paid a heavy price and lost the 2014 elections in both Seemandhra and Telangana.
Prof. Kodandaram, chairman, Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) said, “It’s a momentous day for people of the region. From 1952 to 1956 we lived in a democratic government but subsequently were subjugated to the colonial rule of Andhras. The long-cherished desire of self-rule has finally been achieved. We now have to collectively work for the reconstruction and development of Telangana,” he added.
Former TNGOs president and MLC, Swami Goud, who led the employees during the peak of the Telangana movement, asked all sections of people including youth, women and elders to participate in the gala Telangana birthday bash.
"It's an unforgettable moment. The desire of every Telanganaite has come true. Now we have to preserve the state and ensure its rapid development. It can be achieved with united effort again," he remarked.
