Hyderabad: The Telangana state Budget for 2017-18 presented to the State Legislature on Monday woos castes with a slew of sops in an obvious bid to create a strong caste-based vote bank for the the Telangana Rashtra Samiti ahead of the 2019 Assembly elections. The Budget laid special emphasis on strengthening the rural economy and encouraging caste-based professions.
The Budget provided financial assistance for Nayee Brahmins (barbers) to set up modern hair cutting salons in the state; washing machine dryers, iron boxes and modern dhobi ghats for washermen; modern tools for the Vishwakarma community comprising Avusula, Kammari, Kanchari, Vadrangi, artisans, tailors, Gouds dependent on toddy-tapping and those dependent on other traditional occupations.
Sub Rs 2-Lakh income can get you sops
A Most Backward Classes Corporation for MBCs has been allotted Rs 1,000 crore, Brahmin Sankshema Parishad for welfare of Brahmins gets Rs 100 crore, and the amount given to perform the marriage of girls from poorer sections has incr-eased from Rs 51,000 to Rs 75,116 under the Kalyana Laxmi/Shaadi Mubarak.
Distribution of 88 lakh sheep to the Yadava community, fish rearing scheme for Gangaputra, Bestha, Goondla, Bantu, Mudiraj and Boya communities. To avail of these benefits, the annual income limit in rural areas is Rs 1.50 lakh and in urban areas, Rs 2 lakh.
Caste matters
Backward Classes: Rs 5,070 crore
Most Backward Classes: Rs 1,000 crore
Scheduled Castes: Rs 14,375 crore
Scheduled Tribes: Rs 8,165 crore
Dhobis & Nayee Brahmins: Rs 450 crore
Weavers (Padmashalis): Rs 1,200 crore
Yadavs (Sheep rearing):Rs 2,500 crore
Brahmin welfare:Rs 100 crore
Minorities: Rs 1,249 crore
