In Hyderabad, BJP Telangana leader N. Ramchander Rao urged the state government to deliver on promises made in the 2023 Assembly elections regarding the support for people with disabilities.
He wrote to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday, voicing serious concerns over the unfulfilled promises, despite the Congress being in power for nearly 18 months.
The Congress had vowed to increase pensions for disabled individuals to Rs 6,000, offer Rs 15,000 to those with over 80% disability, and raise pensions for widows, the elderly, and single women to Rs 4,000 under the Cheyutha program. However, these commitments remain unfulfilled, leading to financial strain for many. The delay in processing pensions for newly applied disabled individuals has raised doubts about the government’s commitment. People expected these six guarantees to be implemented within 100 days, but “not a single step has been taken so far.”
The BJP demands immediate action to tackle these issues. Their main demands include:
- Raising disability pensions to Rs 6,000 monthly and Rs 15,000 for those with more than 80% disability, retroactively applied with arrears.
- Identifying eligible new applicants for pensions, with arrears paid from the application date.
- Amending laws or issuing ordinances for political reservations for disabled individuals in local elections.
- Enforcing a 4% reservation in government departments and releasing the SCD G.O. for carry-forward posts.
- Providing autonomy to the Department for Differently Abled Persons and appointing district-level staff.
- Offering free RTC bus travel for the differently abled and filling 4% backlog posts in RTC, with a 5% reservation in business complexes.
- Allocating land and funds for the YRRD Trust under the Yadagiri Gutta Devasthanam Board.
Ramchander Rao also called for various opportunities and programs for the disabled:
- Implementing the IMP_MEPM self-help program loan waiver and fresh loan support.
- Providing incentives, solar projects, RTC bus services, and opportunities for Indira Makhila Canteens.
- Enforcing the HIR policy and establishing Mani Vikas Kendras in every Mandal.
- Ensuring special protection under Section 92 of the Differently Abled Persons Act in police and judiciary matters.
Furthermore, he emphasized:
- Health insurance coverage of Rs 50 lakh for every differently abled person.
- Job protection for disabled Anganwadi teachers and helpers.
- Appointing experienced disabled individuals to government commissions and boards.
- Regularizing contract and outsourced disabled workers involved in the Telangana movement, plus housing sites, Rs 50 lakh grants, and job opportunities.
He also urged the formation of an independent commission, a state advisory committee, and district committees under the Differently Abled Persons Law of 2016. Additionally, he stressed that the Cheyutha program should provide a pension of Rs 4,000 for widows, the elderly, and single women.
Ramchander Rao warned that if the Congress does not implement these promises soon, the BJP will launch a public movement to address these issues.
