Manda Krishna slams government for failing to enhance pension amount
MRPS founder Manda Krishna Madiga accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its promise of raising pensions to Rs 4,000. He announced a series of protests, including a Collectorate siege and highway blockade, to press the demand
Mancherial: The Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi (MRPS) founder president Manda Krishna Madiga said that the organisation would continue its agitation till old age pensions were enhanced.
Speaking at a meeting in Thandur mandal headquarters on Saturday, he recalled that after YS Rajasekhar Reddy became Chief Minister in 2004, the social security pension amount was increased to Rs 200. He said that in 2014, all parties had promised in their election manifestos to raise the pension to Rs 1,000 due to the struggles of MRPS. Subsequently, the amount was increased in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
He said it was due to the pressure from MRPS that the pension amount was further raised to Rs 2,000 during the 2019 elections. He alleged that the Congress, which came to power after promising Rs 4,000 pension in 2023, had failed to implement it even after 21 months in office.
He opined that it was unfair for the government, which came to power with the votes of the disabled, elderly and widows, to ignore its promise of enhancing the pension amount. He called for continuing the agitation under MRPS until the demand was met.
He also announced a siege of District Collectorates on September 8, a protest in front of mandal Tahsildar offices on September 20, and a blockade of the Hyderabad-Vijayawada national highway, along with other phased protests.
MRPS district president Chennuri Sammaiya, constituency in-charge Jilakara Shankar, leader Ganesh and others were present at the meeting.
