As part of working for inclusive growth of selected
villages in Telangana the State Government will introduce “Telangana
Palle Pragathi” programme from January. The scheme will be implemented
in 1,500 selected villages of 150 mandals with the World Bank
assistance.
The decision was taken at the first executive committee meeting of the
Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) here on Wednesday.
Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development K.T. Rama Rao who
chaired the meeting stated later that one-top-shops would be opened in
villages to provide citizen services to people and their management
would be handed over to educated women of the villages concerned.
“It will not only empower rural women but provide citizen services to
rural people in their villages itself”, the minister said. The scheme
was so far known as Telangana Rural Inclusive Growth Project (TRIGP).
During the discussion on enhanced social security pensions from
November, the minister stated that the beneficiaries would be given
cards to list the disbursement of their pension every month. The cards
would be given in different colours for old-aged people, widows and
physically-challenged persons.
The meeting finalised the nomenclature of “Aasara” to the social
security pensions but the final decision would be taken after
discussing it with the Chief Minister. The cards would mention the
amount the pensioners were entitled to get every month and a toll-free
phone number to call for, in case the beneficiaries had any problems
or complaints.
The minister assured that the State Government would continue
interest-free loans to women self help groups and the dues under the
scheme would be cleared soon. On the demand of SERP employees for
regularisation of their service, the meeting has taken a decision
after getting the report of a committee appointed for the purpose. It
was also decided to regularise the 36-day ‘Sakala Janula Samme’
period.
Principal Secretary (PR&RD) J. Raymond Peter, SERP Chief Executive
Officer A. Murali, Rural Development Commissioner Venkateshwarlu and
others participated.