‘Kalyana Laxmi’ scheme will be extended to BCs: Dy CM

Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari on Tuesday assured the Telangana Legislative Assembly that the State Government would consider extending the benefits of ‘Kalyana Laxmi’ to Backward Classes.

Replying to a question raised by TRS MLA Ajmeera Rekha and others during Question Hour, the Deputy CM informed that so far Rs. 337 crore have been released for ‘Kalyana Laxmi’ and ‘Shaadi Mubarak’ schemes. Furnishing the details, he said so far 41,123 people benefitted from Kalayana Laxmi Pathakam. They include 26,840 from Scheduled Castes and 14,283 from Scheduled Tribes. As many as 20,495 people benefitted from Shaadi Mubarak scheme.

The Deputy CM said that the complete process of application, verification, sanction and remittance to bank account has been made online. All expenditures under the scheme are free of Treasury Control. Annual Action Plan has been prepared by fixing the physical and financial targets and the scheme has been included in Green Channel for release of funds.

The State Government has provided an amount of Rs. 15704.06 lakhs for SCs, Rs. 8000 lakhs for STs in BE 2015-16 under Kalyana Lakshmi Scheme while Rs. 10,000 lakh have been allocated for Shaadi Mubarak scheme. The implementation of schemes is being regularly reviewed with field level functioning. Progress is being reviewed through video/tele conferences and through online. The concerned officials have been instructed to conduct door to door visits to educate the villages and to promote the schemes.

Meetings with officials of Treasury, Banks and e-Pass are being conducted to overcome the difficulties, if any, in sanctions and in crediting the amounts into the accounts of the beneficiaries. A helpline has been established for Shaadi Mubarak queries. Special publicity cells have been established in ITDAs for brining awareness in STs in Agency Areas.

MLAs including Ajmeera Rekha, Konda Surehka and Jaffer Hussain Meraj urged the government to start online centres to help the beneficiaries and eradicate middlemen. (INN)