Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Wednesday unveiled the roadmap for Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) government that promised up to 12 per cent reservation each for Scheduled Tribes and minorities in education and employment.
Addressing a joint session of Legislative Assembly and Council, Mr. Narasimhan who read out a 21-page report of what the new government proposed to do said ‘Lambada’ thandas and ‘Adivasigudems’ would be reconstituted as panchayats. The government was keen to confer ST status on Kaithi Lambadas and Valmiki Boyas. It will examine the demand for Integrated Tribal Development Agency for tribals of plain areas.
The Palamuru lift irrigation scheme to irrigate dry lands of Mahbubnagar and western Ranga Reddy districts and supply drinking water to Hyderabad would be taken up. An immediate survey would be ordered to take water by gravity from Jurala in Mahbubnagar to Pakala lake in Warangal district.
Mr. Narasimhan expressed the government’s commitment to waive crop loans up to Rs one lakh, an election promise of the TRS that caused distress among farmers after the government planned to implement it with a restriction of one year, but the entire Opposition slammed the government for not spelling out how it proposed to go ahead.
The Governor’s text which surprisingly made no reference to the controversial ordinance on Polavaram project promised Rs 10 lakh assistance and jobs to families of those who committed suicide due to delay in formation of Telangana State. He expressed the government’s resolve to spend Rs. 50,000 crore for the welfare of SCs and Rs. 25,000 crore on BCs in its five-year term.
The government will take up housing for the needy at Rs three lakh a unit and provide pensions to the physically handicapped and aged. Free and compulsory education in English medium will be given from KG to PG. A special increment will be paid to State government employees to mark the formation of the State. The State will be transformed into the ‘seed bowl of the country’ by encouraging farmers to produce quality seed.
Recognising that Telangana will face power shortage, Mr. Narasimhan highlighted the government’s proposal to take up with the Centre its promise to set up a 4,000 MW thermal plant in the Stat to be operated by the NTPC. Another 6,000 MW will be generated by the State-run power generation corporation. Super speciality hospitals will be established in all districts.
Tax exemption will be given on tractors and trolleys for agricultural operations. Autorickshaws will also be exempted from payment of tax and their drivers and construction workers would be extended accident insurance.
