Hyderabad: The Telangana government accorded top priority to BC welfare schemes and aimed to cover every eligible beneficiary, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka said on Monday. Bhatti reviewed the BC Welfare Department at a high-level meeting held at Praja Bhavan. He said the government was taking steps to ensure that welfare benefits reached eligible people.
The Deputy Chief Minister said pre-matric and post-matric scholarship funds were transferred directly into students’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer. Under the new system, the government had deposited ₹450 crore into the accounts of 1.30 lakh students, he said.
Bhatti also directed officials to transfer diet and cosmetic charges to students staying in BC welfare hostels. He instructed them to credit the amounts directly into students’ accounts every month without delay.
Bhatti reviews progress of BC welfare schemes
Bhatti said the government had sanctioned protective kits for 50,000 toddy tappers under the Katamayya Protective Kits scheme. Of them, 40,000 beneficiaries had already received the kits. He also reviewed Rajiv Yuva Vikasam, which aimed to provide employment and economic advancement opportunities to unemployed BC youth.
Bhatti said the scheme would be launched in November. He directed officials to scrutinise applications transparently in the presence of district Collectors. Officials were also asked to select eligible beneficiaries after completing the scrutiny process. Meanwhile, Bhatti assured officials that pending bills of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Gurukul institutions would be cleared soon.
BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar requested the government to sanction permanent buildings for Gurukul educational institutions. In response, Bhatti said the government would examine the proposal. Senior BC Welfare Department officials also attended the review meeting on BC welfare schemes.