Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka launches Praja Palana, 16,395 centres to receive applications

HYDERABAD: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka formally launched the Praja Palana public outreach programme at Abdullapurmet village in Ibrahimpatnam of Ranga Reddy district on Thursday.

The flagship programme of the new Government simultaneously began at 12,769 panchayats, and 3,626 municipal wards, totaling 16,395 places. A team of 3,714 officials and nodal officers were entrusted with the supervision of the programme that would continue till January 6, 2024.

“The Congress Government has already started implementing a free bus service for women. Similarly, the enhanced Rajiv Arogya Sri health scheme is also being implemented. Do fill up all the columns that apply to you and submit,” the deputy CM said.

He reiterated his Government stand regarding the sanction of Rs 5 lakh for the construction of houses in Abdullapurmet. “Our Government would never threaten anyone to join the Congress to get a house. All eligible applicants will get shelter over their heads,” he said.

He pointed out that the Praja Palana programme was launched on the day the Congress party was born. He called upon the people to remember the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters for the freedom of the great nation. “Unfortunately, in Telangana where many people sacrificed their lives for separate State, the earlier government failed to fulfill their aspirations,” he noted. He assured the public that the Congress Government would implement all the six guarantees. He said that the BRS Government did not allocate a single house to the poor in the past ten years. He pointed out that during the BRS rule lands were forcibly snatched from the poor and the Congress Government was determined to do justice under the ‘Indiramma Palana’.

BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar attended the launch of Praja Palana at Banjarahills in Hyderabad and said that applications were being received through 600 centres across the city. He advised the public to patiently clear their doubts with the officials manning the centres and fill out the forms.

Many applicants reached the designated centres in their areas in the erstwhile districts of Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, and Warangal from 8 am and started filling up the applications with the help of volunteers provided by the Government. Separate counters were opened to receive applications for new ration cards.

However, in some places, the officials limited the distribution of Praja Palana applications to 500. There was some confusion among the applicants who didn’t have a ration card.