Uttam promises to double social security pensions

​Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Wednesday announced that if voted to power in the next elections, the Congress would double the Social Security Pension for beneficiaries under all categories.

Addressing a press conference, along with other senior leaders, at Gandhi Bhavan, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress would increase monthly Aasara pension amount for all categories like elderly persons, widows, weavers, and others from present Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. He said the pension amount for differently abled would also be increased from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 per month. Further, he said the eligibility age for Old Age pensions will also be reduced from present 65 to 58 years.

The TPCC chief also announced that the Congress would also give unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month for at least 10 lakh youth across the State. Reacting to the criticism made by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on the proposal, he said more than 18 lakh eligible qualified youth have already registered themselves with the Telangana State Public Services Commission (TSPSC) alone. Therefore, he said a criterion would be set to give pension to at least 10 lakh unemployed youth. He said this would cost a financial burden of Rs 300 crore per month on the State's Exchequer which was quite manageable.

He said All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi had been informed about the Chief Minister's announcement that he would declare TRS candidates in September. In response he said, Rahul Gandhi asked him and AICC Telangana Incharge to constitute a committee to shortlist the aspirants so that the list of candidates could be released next month.

Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the two-day tour of Rahul Gandhi was highly successful and there had been tremendous public response to his visit. Rahul Gandhi addressed the concerns of women Self Help Groups, exposed the corruption of Modi and Chandrashekar Rao governments and gave assurance to students and unemployed youth that their problems would be resolved. He said within 24 hours after Rahul Gandhi's arrival in Hyderabad, the State government cleared Rs 970 crore out of Rs 3,000 crore dues for women SHGs. Reacting to the criticism by TRS leaders including Minister K T Rama Rao, Uttam Kumar Reddy described their comments as 'immature, silly and cheap'.

Telangana Congress Incharge RC Khuntia strongly condemned K Chandrashekar Rao for his comments on Rahul Gandhi. Uttam Kumar Reddy hoisted the national flag to marks the Independence Day celebrations at Gandhi Bhavan. He expressed concern over the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao were trying to neutralise democratic institutions in the country and in State. Senior leaders K Jana Reddy, Shabbir Ali, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Saleem Ahmed, Sravan Dasoju, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Madhu Yaskhi Goud and Mallu Ravi were also present.