Centre pledges backing for Telangana's welfare programmes

Hyderabad: The Union government has committed to providing full support for Telangana's welfare programmes, following a high-level review conducted by Union Secretary Sudhansh Pant on Monday.

During his visit to the state capital, Pant assessed the implementation of various social welfare schemes at the community level. The assessment encompassed programmes targeting Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, persons with disabilities, and transgender communities.

Pant held discussions with Welfare Minister Adluri Lakshman Kumar at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar State Secretariat, where the minister outlined the scope and scale of Telangana's welfare initiatives across different sectors.

Lakshman Kumar highlighted that welfare remains a cornerstone of the state government's agenda under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's leadership. He emphasised a comprehensive strategy designed to benefit Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, minority communities, disabled persons, transgender individuals, and the elderly.

The minister appealed to the Centre for sustained support to enhance and expand the state's welfare programmes through innovative approaches.

Pant responded positively, indicating that the Union government would consider the state's proposals favourably and evaluate additional funding for programme implementation.

The Union Secretary subsequently toured welfare facilities located in Masab Tank, including a Day Care Centre, an Old Age Home, and rehabilitation centres for substance abuse. During the facility visits, he examined operational conditions and engaged with programme beneficiaries.

Pant expressed appreciation for the quality of care provided to senior citizens and commended the management standards across the centres.

The Union Secretary also recognised the state's targeted initiatives for the transgender community, particularly in areas of skills training, employment generation, and specialised programmes such as driving instruction. He suggested that the Centre could provide additional resources if needed to support such efforts.

The visit underscored collaborative efforts between the Central and State governments in advancing welfare service delivery across Telangana.