Telangana government lays out welfare and development agenda in Governor address

HYDERABAD: Telangana Government today announced a raft of measures envisaging a Rs one lakh crore spend for the welfare of farmers, minorities and poorer sections, even as it laid out a road map for industrial development of the state and transforming Hyderabad into a world class city during its tenure.

The government said it is determined to extend Rs 10 lakh monetary assistance to bereaved families of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Telangana.

Addressing the maiden historic session of both Houses of the State of Telangana, Governor E S L Narasimhan said as an initial measure to reduce debt burden and to bring fresh hope and vigour, a waiver of crop loan up to Rs one lakh to each farmer would be implemented.

Noting that his Government believes that development at the cost of welfare would have little meaning and lakhs of families are still living below the poverty line and millions of children are unable to access good education, Narasimhan said, "It is precisely for this reason that my Government has decided to lay particular emphasis on the welfare of SCs, STs, BCs, minorities and the poor among other sections of society by spending one lakh crore rupees in the coming five years."

In the address, which largely reflected the promises made by the ruling TRS in its election manifesto, the Governor said up to 12 per cent reservation in respect of education and government employment would be provided for tribals who constitute a sizable proportion of the state's population, and added that it is also committed to give to 12 per cent reservation to minorities.

"We are going to provide an unprecedented annual allocation of Rs 1,000 crore budget for the welfare of minorities," Narasimhan said.

"We will take appropriate steps for preservation of Urdu language," he said.