After a decade-long wait for the formation of Telangana state, the Congress Party, which gave Telangana, came to power in Telangana under the leadership of Revanth Reddy as the party that delivered it. Public resentment against a decade of BRS rule, the slogan "We want change, Congress should come," the six guarantees promised by the Congress Party, and Revanth Reddy's leadership brought the Congress Party to the shores of victory. Revanth Reddy, who had not even worked as a minister until then, directly assumed responsibilities as Chief Minister, starting his administration amid doubts. As the Congress government's rule completes two years and steps into the third year, mixed responses are being expressed across the state regarding Revanth Reddy's performance and the government's administration. Overcoming administrative obstacles, politically confronting opposition parties, formulating new policies for development, and in the process of fulfilling welfare promises, the Congress government has completed its journey of these two years like taking two steps forward and four steps backward.
Where is its mark in welfare?
The Congress Party is considered a brand ambassador for welfare. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who assumed responsibilities as Chief Minister in 2004, left an indelible mark on the welfare agenda with schemes like Arogyasri, fee reimbursement, and 108. In Telangana state too, during elections, the six guarantees, five declarations, and 420 promises made by the Congress Party played a key role in achieving power. The Congress Party, which distributed guarantee cards promising to implement the six guarantees within 100 days of coming to power, not only failed to fully implement the guarantees but also failed to implement key guarantees, leading opposition parties and the public to question the credibility of the Congress government.
Of the 13 promises in the six guarantees, only 8 have been initiated, but even their targets have not been achieved. A guarantee like Indiramma houses required completing the construction of eight lakh houses in these two years, but across the state, not even one lakh houses have been completed so far. In the Mahalakshmi guarantee, promises like free bus travel and gas cylinders at 500 rupees were implemented, but failing to fulfill the promise of giving 2500 rupees per month to every woman; in the Cheyutha guarantee, increasing the Arogyasri limit to ten lakhs but not increasing pensions to 4000 rupees for lakhs of elderly people who benefit individually – these lead to the opinion that the government is deceiving the people in the implementation of guarantees. The government allocated only 56 thousand crores in the budget for the implementation of the six guarantees, but it is not even fully spending those.
Dissatisfaction is also being expressed regarding the welfare of various social groups. Although a loan waiver of 21 thousand crores was given to 25 lakh farmers, and bonus was provided to fine rice, failing to uphold the 15000 rupees Rythu Bharosa promise, skipping one installment of Rythu Bharosa, urea shortages, lack of support prices, not providing 12 thousand rupees annual financial assistance to farm laborers under Indiramma Atmiya Bharosa, Dalit Bandhu not taking off, youth not receiving financial assistance under the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme, promising to make one crore women millionaires but giving only one saree instead of two, not giving a tola of gold and scooters to girls, failure in caste census and providing 42 percent reservations as promised, allocating fewer funds to BC social groups in the budget – dissatisfaction is being expressed from those groups against the government. Criticisms are arising that lakhs of crores allocated in the budget for the welfare of various social groups are not even being spent. Gas cylinder subsidy not being deposited in accounts, attempts to reduce the number of free electricity beneficiaries – these are leading to opposition from beneficiaries against the government. Schemes like free bus facility for women and distribution of fine rice to three crore poor people seem okay. It would not be an exaggeration to say that in these two years of Revanth Reddy's rule, there is not a single welfare scheme that has left a mark on people's minds or changed people's lives.
Development Plans That Are Not Moving Forward
Governments often say that development and welfare are the two eyes of our governments, but it is painful that in this decade, development programs to place Telangana at a higher level are still in the initial stages. As part of development programs, the previous government completed a project like Kaleshwaram, but controversies around it, power projects not completing, failure to achieve promises included in the bifurcation act – development did not progress to the expected level. After Revanth Reddy assumed responsibilities as Chief Minister, another key project like Palamuru Rangareddy was not completed, promises in the bifurcation act were not achieved, state income not increasing, 2.22 lakh crores of debts taken, rampant corruption at all levels – there is a possibility of negative impact on state development.
After the Revanth Reddy government came to power, participating twice in the Davos World Economic Forum conferences, touring countries like America, Singapore, South Korea, securing investment agreements worth three lakh crores, and agreements worth 5.75 lakh crores in the Telangana Rising Vision Document-2047 conference – to some extent, this government has progressed toward its goals. Efforts to enhance Hyderabad's brand image with Musi River Front cleansing, and the Telangana Rising Vision Document-2047 for comprehensive state development are expected to be useful for the future development of the state. In key sectors of human development like education, medicine, and health, this government has not brought any revolutionary changes in these two years. Funds allocated and spent in the budget for these sectors are also low; with over 1000 gurukulas in the state, 600 are in rented buildings; without improving facilities in government schools and hospitals, why construct Young India Integrated Schools in 100 constituencies on 25 acres each at a cost of 200 crores – the government itself should explain. Unemployed youth, who were key partners in the previous government's defeat, are also dissatisfied with this government. The Chief Minister says we filled 60 thousand jobs and will fill another 40 thousand – where did the 80 thousand jobs announced by the previous government go? What happened to the promise of filling two lakh jobs in the first year? Where did the job calendar go? – the unemployed are questioning.
In these two years, it must be said that Revanth Reddy achieved success in controlling dissatisfactions within the party and opposition parties. Although mixed results in Lok Sabha and MLC elections, winning by-elections and gaining upper hand over opposition parties. In the first phase of gram panchayat elections, BRS and BJP gave tough competition to the ruling Congress – this should be seen as a signal for future political developments. It must be said that the Revanth Reddy government failed to reach the aspirations of the movement goals, funds, water, and appointments. Opinions at the ground level are that there is no difference from Pragathi Bhavan rule to Praja Palana – rulers have changed, but people's lives have not changed much.
Dr. Tirunahari Sheshu
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