Telangana: Congress and the unfulfilled promises made to women

During the Assembly elections in 2023, the Congress made many promises to the women and the same were included in the party manifesto “Abhaya Hastham”.

Hyderabad: It is the second International Women’s Day after Congress came to power in the State. As the government is making elaborate arrangements to celebrate the occasion on a grand note on Saturday, women feel deceived by the Congress over its unfulfilled promises.

During the Assembly elections in 2023, the Congress made many promises to the women and the same were included in the party manifesto “Abhaya Hastham”. Save for the free travel in TSRTC buses and partial implementation of Rs.500 gas cylinder and 200 units free power supply schemes, the Congress is yet to fulfill many promises.

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To begin with, under Kalyanamasthu programme, the Congress had announced that apart from Rs.1 lakh assistance, 10 grams of gold would be offered to women during the marriage.

Though, the Ministers and Congress MLAs have been distributing Kalyanamasthu cheques but have been maintaining a strategic silence on offering 10 grams gold to the beneficiaries. Many even faced embarrassing moments, when women questioned them about the promise.

Similarly, electric scooters were promised to young women pursuing education and Rs.2500 monthly assistance under Mahalakshmi programme.

Under Cheyutha, single women, widows, beedi workers, weavers and others were assured a monthly pension of Rs.4,000. Neither of these key promises has been fulfilled in the State.

Likewise, mid-day meal workers were promised that their salaries would be increased to Rs.10,000. Anganwadi teachers were also assured that their salaries would be increased to Rs.18,000, besides getting them under EPF coverage.

The fact that Anganwadi teachers staged a protest at Praja Bhavan here on Tuesday reflects the ground situation.

Demanding the Congress government to fulfill its promises, Anganwadi teachers wanted the government to increase their salaries and regularize mini Anganwadi teachers’ services. They raised slogans and submitted representation to the officials.

Similarly, mid-day meal workers have been staging protests and demanding the government to increase their salaries. The Congress partner CPI had also raised the mid meal workers issues in the Assembly a few times and it has been 14 months but their issues have not been addressed.

Reminding the Congress of its unkept promises, BRS MLC and Telangana Jagruthi president K Kavitha launched a postcard campaign. She demanded the government to make an announcement on providing Rs.2500 monthly assistance to women by Saturday – the International Women’s Day.

Since AICC Telangana incharge Meenakshi Natarajan happens to be a Gandhian, women are hoping that she would ensure the Congress government delivers its promises.

Here is the list of promises made to women:

– Rs.2,500 monthly assistance under Mahalakshmi programme

– Monthly pension of Rs.4,000 to widows, differently-abled, beedi workers, single woman, weavers, AIDS, Filaria and kidney patients

– Electric scooters to young women aged above 18 years and pursuing education

– Offer Rs.1 lakh and 10 grams of gold under Indiramma Gift to Hindu and Rs.1,60 lakh for minority girls at the time of marriage.

– Every college student to be given Vidya Bharosa card of Rs.5 lakh to meet education expenses

– Free internet through wi-fi facilities to all students

– A government job, house site, monthly honorary pension of Rs.25,000 to the mother, wife or father of Telangana Martyrs

– Extend life insurance coverage to beedi workers and get them under ESI purview.

– Rs.500 gas cylinder

– Free travel for women in TSRTC buses

– 200 units free power supply to households

– Monthly unemployed allowance of Rs.4,000

– Implement Vidya Jyothulu Pathakam for offering assistance for SC and ST students. Rs.10,000 upon passing 10th class, Rs 15,000 upon passing Intermediate and Rs.        25,000 upon graduation and Rs. 1 lakh upon post graduation. Provide Rs. 5 Lakh for completing MPhil and PhD.

– Mid-day meal workers’ salaries will be increased to Rs.10,000

– Anganwadi Teachers will be increased to Rs.18,000 and bring them under EPF coverage

– Revive the Bangaru Thalli scheme to provide financial assistance to new born girl child

– Establish old age homes in all district headquarters

– Rs.25 lakh financial assistance to students belonging to SC, ST, BC and Minorities pursuing higher education overseas

– Skill development centre for aspiring women entreprenuers with a dedicated special fund

– Permanent building for DWAKRA Groups, and extend interest-free loans

– Special incentives for promotion of startups and special laws for safety of IT employees