CM KCR keeps promise of country’s highest pension for differently-abled, hikes diet charges for students

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao issued orders hiking the quantum of pension being given to them from Rs 3,016 to Rs 4,016 per month

Hyderabad: Fulfilling his promise to enhance the State government’s financial assistance to the differently-abled under the Aasara pension scheme, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday issued orders hiking the quantum of pension being given to them from Rs 3,016 to Rs 4,016 per month. This is the highest assistance extended by a State government to differently abled persons in the country, with the hike to be implemented with effect from the current month.

In another landmark decision to provide quality food in hostels for students of Gurukuls across the State, the Chief Minister also signed a file hiking diet charges.

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As for the Aasara pension hike, all the existing eligible pensioners covered under the differently-abled category (persons with disabilities) under the scheme will be paid the enhanced assistance. The Chief Minister had made an announcement to this effect while addressing a public meeting in Mancherial on June 9. Orders were issued to this effect after a review at the Secretariat on Saturday.

Over five lakh pension holders under the specially abled category would benefit by the decision of the Chief Minister to extend enhanced assistance.

Thanking the Chief Minister for extending the highest assistance in the country in form of the Aasara pension to the differently-abled persons, Finance Minister T Harish Rao tweeted that like never before in the country, the pension for differently-abled persons was increased to Rs.4016 per month.

“This historic decision will benefit more than 5 lakh disabled pensioners,” he said.

“Our heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister and the measure stands as the testimony of the BRS government under the able leadership of the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, whose approach is inclusive and progressive,” Harish Rao said, adding that the Telangana government remained committed to the welfare of people with disabilities.

As for the increased diet charges, which will come into effect from the month of July, students studying from Class 3 to 7, who are currently getting Rs 950 as diet charges, will from now get Rs 1,200. The charges for students from Class 8 to 10 have been increased from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,400, while those for Class 11 to PG have been hiked from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,875.

The Chief Minister had earlier appointed a sub-committee of Ministers to review the situation and the existing diet charges. Based on the recommendations of the sub-committee, he signed the file revising the diet charges.

Finance and Health Minister Harish Rao, along with his cabinet colleagues, Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Errabelli Dayakar Rao, and Minister for Tribal Welfare, Women and Child Welfare Satyavathi Rathod met and thanked the Chief Minister on the occasion.

Over 7.5 lakh students to benefit

The Chief Minister said over 7.50 lakh students studying in Tribal Welfare, SC welfare, BC Welfare and Education department gurukuls across the State would benefit from the decision to increase diet charges. Compared to the existing charges, the diet charges have been increased by 26 percent. This would result in annual additional expenditure of Rs 237.24 crore for the government.

The decision to increase the diet charges was taken while taking to consideration the students’ welfare, unmindful of the annual additional expenditure the government had to bear, he said, adding that already, students in different hostels were being served fine rice varieties, besides extending quality education.