People’s welfare is the goal of people’s governance: Gadwala Vijayalakshmi

WARANGAL: Telangana State Planning Board Vice-Chairperson Gadwala Vijayalakshmi said people’s welfare is the core objective of the government’s administration, as she addressed the official celebrations of Praja Palana Dinotsavam in Warangal on Wednesday.

Vijayalakshmi, the chief guest at the event held at the Warangal IDOC grounds, hoisted the national flag and inspected the police guard of honour. Earlier, she paid floral tributes at the Amaraveerula Stupam (martyrs’ memorial) at Khila Warangal.

She recalled that September 17 holds special significance in Telangana’s history as the day the Hyderabad State acceded to the Indian Union, and the state government has chosen to observe it as Praja Palana Dinotsavam (People’s Governance Day). She said it is everyone’s duty to remember the sacrifices of the warriors, freedom fighters, poets, artists and common people who struggled for Telangana’s liberation.

Vijayalakshmi paid homage to revolutionary leaders such as Komaram Bheem, Doddi Komuraiah, Ravi Narayana Reddy, Swami Ramananda Tirtha, Bhimireddy Narasimha Reddy and Chakali Ilamma, as well as literary icons like Suravaram Pratapa Reddy, Kaloji Narayana Rao, Magdoom Mohiuddin, Dasarathi Krishnamacharya, Suddala Hanumanthu and Shoyabullakhan.

Six guarantees and welfare schemes in focus

The government is prioritising social justice, equal opportunities, development and welfare in line with people’s aspirations, she said, adding that it is implementing the six guarantees along with several other development and welfare programmes while maintaining fiscal discipline.

Rythu Bharosa

Under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, financial assistance worth ₹162.03 crore has been disbursed so far to 1,58,201 farmers covering 2,70,050 acres in Warangal district, Vijayalakshmi said. Due to deficient rainfall, farmers are being encouraged to shift to alternative crops.

While paddy is normally cultivated over 1,39,997 acres in the district, only 51,045 acres were brought under paddy transplantation this year due to low rainfall, she explained. Farmers are being advised to give priority to vegetables, fruit orchards, and drip and sprinkler irrigation.

Free bus travel for women

Through the Mahalakshmi scheme, the government is providing free bus travel to women, she said. Under the Gruha Jyothi scheme, the government has borne a subsidy of ₹134.39 crore to provide up to 200 units of free electricity to 1,41,259 families in the district.

Indiramma housing

Under the Indiramma Illu scheme, houses have been sanctioned to 9,534 poor families in the district, and work has begun for 7,046 beneficiaries, Vijayalakshmi said. Currently, 3,777 houses are under construction at various stages, while 3,269 houses have been completed and occupied. The government has released ₹208.56 crore in funds so far.

In the two-bedroom housing scheme, the tender process for 3,845 houses has been completed, and construction of 2,237 houses has been finished at a cost of ₹148.63 crore, she added.

Large loans to women’s groups

Aiming to economically empower women, the government is implementing the Indiramma Mahila Shakti programme, she said. Interest-free loans exceeding ₹3.68 crore have been provided to 3,211 women’s self-help groups (SHGs), while bank loans worth over ₹60.70 crore have been facilitated for 1,557 groups in 2026–27.

Bhoo Bharati and digital re-survey

To realise the vision of a Telangana free from land disputes, the government has introduced the Bhoo Bharati Act, she said. A digital re-survey is underway in Warangal district to ensure clarity of land rights, transparency and resolution of boundary disputes. Using GNSS rovers and DGPS equipment, re-survey of over 5,180 acres across 13 villages has been completed, she said.

Rural development push

In the district, pensions worth ₹26.77 crore are being distributed every month to 1,18,922 beneficiaries, Vijayalakshmi said. In 2026–27 so far, bank loans of ₹196.18 crore have been sanctioned to 2,757 SHGs, and interest-free loans of ₹46.94 crore to 9,669 groups.

Under MGNREGA, 18 lakh person-days of employment have been generated for 72,128 labourers, with wages worth ₹40.95 crore paid, she added.

Free polished rice distribution

Through 509 fair-price shops in the district, 6 kg of polished rice is being distributed free every month to 2,96,929 ration cardholders, she said. As many as 29,772 new ration cards have been issued, benefiting 93,825 people.

Major investments in health sector

Construction of the 2,100-bed super-speciality hospital at Warangal Health City, at a cost of ₹1,371 crore, is 90 per cent complete, Vijayalakshmi said. Through government hospitals, primary health centres, Palle Davakhanas and Basti Davakhanas, medical services are being provided to about four lakh people every month in the district, she added.

The treatment limit under the Aarogyasri scheme has been raised from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, with 163 new diseases included, she said. In the district, medical treatment has been provided to 14,728 people under Aarogyasri at an expenditure of ₹44.69 crore.

Priority to education

Morning breakfast is being provided to 18,969 students in 295 schools in the district, she said. Through the Sphoorthi programme, efforts are being made to enhance students’ self-confidence and future planning abilities, she added.

BC, SC, minority and tribal welfare

In 2026–27, over ₹83 lakh has been spent on the welfare of 968 SC students, while post-matric scholarships worth ₹87.64 lakh have been sanctioned to 3,042 students, she said. For BC students, post-matric scholarships and fee reimbursement worth ₹15.33 crore have been sanctioned to 3,858 beneficiaries.

Minority students have received ₹3.59 crore in 2026–27, benefiting 1,649 students, she said. Under the Tribal Welfare Department, education and residential facilities are being provided to 1,988 students in hostels and ashram schools, she added.

Welfare of all sections is the goal

The government is giving priority to the progress of women, farmers, the poor, youth, students, the elderly, persons with disabilities and backward classes, Vijayalakshmi said. She stated that development and welfare programmes are being implemented in a coordinated manner in line with people’s needs and aspirations to take Warangal district forward in all sectors.

MLA K.R. Nagaraju (Wardhannapet), Chairman of warangal library Meesala Prakash, District Collector Dr Satya Sharada, East Zone DCP Ankit and others participated in the event.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KOTHA RAMESH

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