Telangana polls: BRS releases manifesto, promises LPG cylinder at Rs 400

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi on Sunday released its manifesto for the forthcoming Telangana Assembly polls in which it promised to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 400 each and increase financial assistance given under the Rythu Bandhu investment support scheme for farmers once it is elected to power again.

The ruling party in the state also announced to raise the social security pension amounts for the people of Telangana.
"The BJP at the centre has increased the gas cylinder prices abnormally and put an unbearable burden on the common man. BRS is announcing another guarantee with a humanitarian aspect due to the large number of requests from women to avoid this burden. We promise that the BRS government provide a gas cylinder for Rs 400 to deserving poor women and the rest of the burden will be borne by the government," the party said while releasing its manifesto.

The Telangana Assembly polls are scheduled to be held on November 30.
The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

Releasing the party manifesto, 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 five lakh and that the government would bear the cost of the premium.
"We will provide life insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh through LIC on the lines of Rythu Bhima to every poor household who possesses a white ration card. One hundred per cent premium will be paid by the government. By this scheme, we will contribute to the strengthening of the public sector LIC," he added.
The party further said that the social security pension, which currently stands at Rs 2,016, will 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 raised incrementally up to Rs 5,000 in the next four years.
Similarly, pension for Divyang people (persons with disabilities) will be enhanced to Rs 6,016 in the coming five years, from the existing Rs 4016.

The manifesto of the BRS also said that for the farmers of the state, the party will increase assistance of the Rythu Bandhu scheme from Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per acre annually in the first year when it comes back to power.

"No one imagined that the government would help the farmers of the country to invest in crops. BRS introduced Rythu Bandhu. This scheme was not an election promise when it was introduced. We brought the Rythubandhu scheme with commitment and honesty, thinking to give relief to the farmers from the mounting debts and to stabilize agriculture. Now, the government is providing Rs 10,000 crop investment assistance per acre annually," the party said.

"We promise to gradually increase Rythu Bandhu assistance in the next five years to a maximum of 16,000 rupees per acre. We will continue the Paddy procurement policy as usual," it added.
The BRS manifesto also promises Rs 15 lakh health insurance coverage to all eligible beneficiaries under the 'Arogya Sri' health scheme, increasing it from the present Rs five lakh.