BRS manifesto promises LPG cylinder at Rs 400, insurance for BPL families

Hyderabad, October 15

Raising social security pension amount, increasing financial assistance given under the ‘Rythu Bandhu’ investment support scheme for farmers and providing LPG cylinders at Rs 400 each are some of the promises made by the ruling BRS for the upcoming Assembly elections in Telangana.

Releasing the party manifesto for the November 30 polls, BRS chief and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said all 93 lakh families living below the poverty line (BPL) in the state would be provided life insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh and that the government would bear the cost of the premium.

Rao said the social security pension, which currently stands at Rs 2,016, would be increased to Rs 5,000 per month gradually over the next five years. According to the manifesto, it will be increased to Rs 3,016 in the first year after the BRS returns to power, and then be hiked incrementally up to Rs 5,000 in the next four years. Similarly, pension for divyangs (persons with disabilities) will be enhanced to Rs 6,016 in the coming five years, from the existing Rs 4,016.

Under the ‘Rythu Bandhu’ scheme in which farmers get Rs 10,000 per annum per acre, the payments will be enhanced gradually to Rs 16,000 per annum in the next five years.

“The BRS, after coming to power, will give gas cylinder to eligible beneficiaries for Rs 400 and the remaining cost will be borne by the state government,” it said.

The BRS manifesto also promises Rs 15 lakh health insurance cover to all eligible beneficiaries under the ‘Arogya Sri’ health scheme, increasing it from the present Rs 5 lakh.

Rao, who expressed confidence that his party would return to power, said the promises announced by the BRS would be implemented within six to seven months after forming the government.