Sarpanch aspirants woo voters with cash deposits for newborn girls

As gram panchayat election campaigning intensifies in Karimnagar, sarpanch aspirants are introducing novel promises to attract voters. While some pledge civic solutions backed by bond papers, others are offering financial deposits for newborn girls.

Karimnagar: As campaigning for the gram panchayat elections gathers pace, several sarpanch aspirants are devising new ways to attract voters, going beyond routine assurances of resolving local issues.

While many are promising solutions to civic problems, some are offering written bond papers to assure implementation of their commitments. A few aspirants have now taken a different route, promising to deposit money in the names of newborn girl children if elected.

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In Arepalli of Vemulawada mandal, sarpanch aspirant Etikyala Raju is promising to deposit Rs 10,000 for every newborn girl. The amount will be deposited after the child’s birth, and bond papers handed over to parents within a few days.

He has assured that this would continue for five years and is actively pitching the promise during his campaign, sparking wide debate among villagers.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Raju said there would be “no question of going back” on the promise, and reiterated that Rs 10,000 would be deposited for each newborn girl for the next five years if he is elected.

He said discrimination against girl children still exists despite technological advancements and this initiative was aimed at supporting them. According to him, the public response has been encouraging.

In Madapur of Ganneruvaram mandal, another sarpanch aspirant, Margam Mallesham, has announced a similar plan, promising to fix Rs 5,000 in the name of every newborn girl child. He has named it the ‘Madapur Mahalakshmi Scheme’.