Copycat manifesto by Congress replicates BRS agenda; to retain Dharani with different name

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) released its manifesto just two weeks before the polling. It had all the time to sit back and alter all the assurances given by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in its manifesto and present its own version just to confuse the voter.

The manifesto of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) released by party president K Chandrashekar Rao on October 15 has 15 different guarantees that cover all sections of society. Many schemes are already in implementation and the 2023 manifesto assures further enhancement of the benefits.

BRS Manifesto in a nutshell

KCR Bima:

Rs 5 lakh insurance for below-poverty-line families

Soubhagya Lakshmi:

Rs 3000 per month to support all poor women

KCR Arogya Raksha:

Health insurance coverage increased to 15 lakh

Gas cylinder at Rs 400:

Subsidised gas cylinders to underprivileged families

Rytu Bandhu:

Investment support to farmers to be increased to Rs 16,000 per acre per annum

Asara pension increased :

Pensions to be increased to Rs 5,016 per month, in a phased manner

Pension for the disabled increased:

Pension for the differently abled to be increased to Rs 6,016 per month, in a phased manner

2BHK houses:

1 lakh 2BHK dignity homes to the underprivileged in Hyderabad

Building for women self-help groups:

Own building for Mahila Swashakti groups

Annapurna scheme:

Fine rice-sanna biyyam to all white ration card holders

Job calendar for youth:

A detailed calendar for recruitment of Government jobs

Orphan policy:

The State Government will take responsibility for orphans as children of the State.

Residential schools for upper caste poor:

One residential school for economically backward students from forward castes in every Assembly constituency

Upgradation of minority junior colleges:

204 minority junior colleges to be upgraded to residential degree colleges

Assigned lands:

Removal of restrictions on assigned lands

Congress to retain Dharani

The Congress to beat the BRS had copied all the points in the regional party’s manifesto and changed the name of a few. For instance, the party that vehemently opposed ‘Dharani’ a portal that encompasses all land-related issues of rural Telangana now wants to keep it but with a different name ‘Bhoomata’.

Kalyana Lakshmi-Indiramma Kanuka

While keeping the dump it in the Bay of Bengal slogan under wraps, the Congress also tried to take up the issue of the welfare of the girl child. Copying the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak financial assistance, the Congress announced a similar scheme with a different name ‘Indiramma Kanuka’.

Three hours or 24 hours?

Now the Congress which raked up a storm by declaring that three hours of power will be enough for farmers to irrigate their holding, seems to have changed its mind by declaring that it would provide round-the-clock power if voted to power.

Government Jobs

The annual job calendar and filling up posts in Government departments is an ongoing programme and except for the problems that plagued the Public Service Commission that led to the cancellation of recruitments, the process will continue till all the jobs are filled.

Land rights

While the BRS launched the issuing of pattas to podu lands and declared that it would grant rights to assigned lands and poramboke lands after returning to power, Congress included that promise in the manifesto.

The Congress Manifesto also talks about financial assistance to sheep rearers, whereas the BRS Government has been implementing a free sheep distribution scheme since 2018. In all 1.28 crore sheep were distributed in the first year of the programme.

Congress promises:

• Praja Darbar by CM

• Bhoomata in place of Dharani

• Free internet for youth

• Bangaru Talli for newborn Girl child

• Indiramma Kanuka: Rs 1 lakh for marriage, 10gm gold

• 24-hour free power

• Within six months mega DSC to fill teachers' posts

• To fill 2 lakh Government jobs

• Annual job calendar

• Pension of Rs 25,000 martyrs' families govt job, 250 square yards of land, and lifting of all cases

• Rs 2 lakh crop loan waiver, up to Rs 3 lakh interest-free loans every year for farmers

• Crop insurance for major crops

• High Court sitting judge to investigate KLIP

• Four more IIITs

• 15% budget for education

• Arogyasri for knee replacement surgery

• Bhoomata portal

• Land commission

• Land rights to 25 lakh acres of land already distributed by the Government

• Payment of pending dearness allowance

• Implementation of old pension scheme for employees

• New PRC and implementation within six months of recommendations

• Payment of two 2 PRC outstanding payments to TSRTC employees

• Rs 12,000 to auto drivers per annum

• Scrapping of belt shops

• Establishment of 3 corporations to SC subcastes

• Rs 2 lakh to sheep rearers

• Rs 5,016 to differently-abled

• 50 percent subsidy for women senior citizens and differently-abled in Metro

• Basti public schools