Harish Rao urges Congress Government to restore Brahmin Welfare schemes

HYDERABAD: Former minister and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao urged Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to immediately restore the welfare initiatives for the Brahmin community in Telangana.

In an open letter to the Chief Minister, Harish Rao expressed deep concern over the current state of the Telangana Brahmin Samkshema Parishad, which was established under the previous administration led by the then Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. He highlighted that the welfare schemes aimed at promoting education, self-employment, and Vedic education have stopped under the current Congress government. He noted that these initiatives had significantly benefited the Brahmin community during KCR's tenure, with an annual allocation of Rs 100 crore dedicated to the Brahmin Parishad.

Key programs such as the Vivekananda Overseas Education Scheme and the Sri Ramanuja Fee Reimbursement Scheme were instrumental in supporting Brahmin students and scholars. Additionally, the financial aid provided through the Vedahita scheme empowered many Brahmin entrepreneurs. The construction of Brahmin Sadans, a Rs 12 crore project, further showcased the state's commitment to Brahmin welfare.

Harish Rao's letter outlined several urgent actions for the Chief Minister to consider, including allocating Rs 100 crore annually to the Brahmin Parishad and forming a governing body immediately, releasing Rs 30 crore for 300 students studying abroad, and completing the selection process for 344 applicants for the 2023-24 academic year. He also called for the disbursement of Rs 16 crore for the 497 selected candidates under the Brahmin Entrepreneur Scheme of Telangana (BEST) and the initiation of interviews for 1869 applicants for the 2023-24 term.

Additionally, Harish Rao urged the immediate payment of pending wages for employees working in the Brahmin Parishad, which have been due for seven months, and the disbursement of the pending honorarium of Rs 5000 to Vedic pandits in schools, along with providing Rs 5000 to Vedic pandits above 75 years to support their financial needs. He also emphasised the need to resume and expedite the construction of Brahmin Sadans in Suryapet, Khammam, and Madhira.

Harish Rao emphasised that addressing these issues promptly would greatly benefit the Brahmin community and restore their welfare.