Watch: The Congress Speed: Kalyana Lakshmi wedding assistance arrives after baby

A long-pending Kalyana Lakshmi cheque handed to a new mother in Godavarikhani has highlighted widespread delays in marriage assistance schemes under Congress government. Beneficiaries say thousands of applications remain stuck, despite the party’s campaign promise of Rs 1 lakh plus one tola gold

Karimnagar: If anyone is looking for a case study on how welfare schemes are being rolled out under the Congress government over the past two years, a curious scene in Godavarikhani on Tuesday might serve well. A woman, now married and a mother as well, received her long-pending Kalyana Lakshmi cheque, for which her application was filed much before she tied the knot.

She was among 433 beneficiaries who were given Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak cheques by Ramagundam MLA Makkan Singh Raj Thakur at his camp office. In what made for a rather striking moment, the MLA not only presented the cheque but also took the newborn into his arms, turning the brief official event into an impromptu photo-op.

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The Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes were launched by the previous BRS government to provide Rs 1 lakh financial assistance for the marriage of poor women, and through its tenure, the support was released without delay.

But, as many beneficiaries now point out, the pace has not just slowed down, but almost stopped since the Congress government assumed office two years ago. Despite thousands of applications submitted soon after the party came to power, the promised Rs 1 lakh assistance has largely remained stuck.

The Congress, during its election campaign, had in fact gone a step further, pledging one tola of gold in addition to the existing Rs 1 lakh if voted to power. However, after the party won the polls, not just the gold, but even the basic financial assistance has been elusive.