Beedi workers in Telangana await promised Aasara allowance as pending applications pile up

Beedi workers across Telangana await inclusion in the Aasara pension scheme, as outdated rules exclude those with post-2014 EPF accounts. Unions have slammed the State government for not fulfilling its poll promise of extending benefits and raising pension amounts

Karimnagar: Thousands of beedi workers in Telangana are eagerly awaiting financial assistance under the Aasara pension scheme, even as their applications for allowances remain stuck due to outdated eligibility norms.

Although several beedi workers recently became eligible for the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), they remain excluded from the Aasara allowance because the government has not revised the cut-off date for eligibility yet.

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The Aasara pension scheme for beedi workers was introduced by the then BRS government to provide financial relief, offering a monthly allowance of Rs. 2,016. Eligibility was restricted to those who had EPF accounts before February 28, 2014. As per current rules, only workers who had a PF account before this date qualify for the pension.

Despite a large number of workers enrolling in the PF scheme after 2014, they continue to be ineligible for the pension due to the unamended criteria. Of the estimated 7.5 lakh beedi workers in Telangana, over 4 lakh are currently receiving the allowance. In the erstwhile Karimnagar district alone, which includes Karimnagar, Jagtial and Peddapalli, there are around 1.5 lakh PF holders and 60,000 non-PF workers.

Across the State, about 1.5 lakh workers who obtained EPF accounts after 2014 have submitted applications for the allowance, but these are reportedly pending with the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP). An additional 50,000 beedi workers are also expected to apply, raising the total number of hopeful beneficiaries to nearly 2 lakh.

Beedi workers’ unions have criticised the State government for failing to fulfil its election promises. The Congress, in its manifesto, had pledged to extend new pensions to beedi workers and increase the pension amount to Rs. 4,016. However, union leaders allege that even after one and a half years, no action has been taken.

Union representatives recalled that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had specifically promised to extend allowance benefits to all beedi workers, and urged the government to honour its commitment without further delay.