The State cabinet meeting that was chaired by chief minister Mr. K Chandrasekhar Rao on Thursday at Pragathi Bhavan has taken a series of decisions extending welfare programmes to more people.
It was decided to launch a new scheme for housing for the poor named `Gruha Laxmi’ wherein those having their own plots would be given rupees three lakhs for the construction of houses. Disclosing the details to the media, Finance minister Mr. T Harish Rao said 3,000 people from each of the 119 Assembly constituencies will be identified first and in a phased manner they will be given Rs. One lakh in three phases. Meanwhile, the double-bedroom housing scheme will also be continued.
Under the Dalit Bandhu, a total of 1.3 lakh people will be identified this time in 118 constituencies, and 1100 beneficiaries will benefit from the grant. Under GO 58, land pattas were issued to 1,45,668 beneficiaries and under GO 59, 42,000 people benefitted. The cut-off date to apply for the benefit has been extended till 2020 but decided to give one month time to benefit the applicants within one month.
The state cabinet has decided to distribute land rights to 1,55,393 acres of podu land to the tribals and a total of four lakh acres will be given to them. The125-feet statue of B R Ambedkar will be unveiled on April 14 amidst thousands of Dalits and a massive public meeting will be held on the day.
It was also decided to construct choultries at Sabarimala and Kashi with an estimate of Rs. 25 crores each foe the benefit of devotees from Telangana. Mr. Harish Rao said the new secretariat building and martyrs memorial inaugural dates will be announced soon. And the minister said the paddy procurement will start from April last week.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao