Hyderabad: BRS leader and former Telangana minister T. Harish Rao on Wednesday accused the Congress government of negligence. They failed in clearing dues owed to small contractors who executed works under the ‘Mana Ooru – Mana Badi’ scheme, including Mana Ooru Mana Badi payments.
Speaking to the media after meeting affected contractors at his residence, Harish Rao said that although payment files were ready, the government had failed to release ₹512 crore in pending bills. He questioned whether the delay was intentional and linked to the absence of kickbacks.
“The previous government launched this programme to transform government schools. Despite completing the work, small contractors are being made to suffer,” Rao said. Contractors told him they had borrowed money and paid interest to complete the projects. However, they had waited nearly a year without receiving the Mana Badi payments. Some families were now in distress, he added.
He also accused the government of favouring large contractors while ignoring the plight of smaller ones. “Clearing big contracts but holding back small ones shows disregard for the common man,” he said.
Delaying school infrastructure payments amounted to obstructing education for underprivileged children, Rao alleged. He criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who also holds the education portfolio, for lacking basic understanding of issues like school infrastructure. Additionally, he criticized the handling of food in gurukuls.
Rao assured that the BRS would raise the issue in the Assembly related to the pending Mana Ooru Mana Badi payments. They would continue to fight until justice was done for the contractors.
మన ఊరు మన బడి కాంట్రాక్టర్ల బిల్లులు వెంటనే విడుదల చేయాలి: మాజీ మంత్రి @BRSHarish డిమాండ్
మన ఊరు మన బడి (MOMB) కాంట్రాక్టర్లకు రావాల్సిన బిల్లులు విడుదల చేయకుండా ప్రభుత్వం ఎందుకు నిర్లక్ష్యం చేస్తోంది?
తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్ర వ్యాప్తంగా మన ఊరు మన బడి కాంట్రాక్టర్లు తీవ్ర ఆర్థిక… pic.twitter.com/a5h1Szk6Sy
— Office of Harish Rao (@HarishRaoOffice) December 31, 2025