The Telangana government, under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has taken several pioneering initiatives with the sole purpose of ensuring good health for all citizens of the state. Some of the landmark initiatives of the state government are:
KCR Kits
The state government has launched the KCR Kit Scheme for pregnant women. Pregnant women can utilise this scheme for maximum two deliveries. Women who give birth at a government hospital can utilise this scheme. The main aim of this scheme is to provide all the necessary items for pregnant women and the newborn baby. Under this scheme, pregnant women will be provided with financial assistance of Rs 12,000 in three phases. In case of a baby girl, an additional Rs 1,000 will be given by the government. A KCR Kit contains baby oil, soaps useful for mother and child, mosquito net, dresses, handbag, toys for child, diapers, powder, shampoo, sarees, towel, napkins, and baby bed.
Arogya Lakshmi
The Telangana government provides one nutritious meal every day to pregnant and lactating women and children below the age of six through Anganwadi centres.
The scheme was launched officially on 1 January, 2015 by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. For women, 200 ml of milk for 25 days a month and one egg each day are given with the meal. Children, aged between seven months and three years are provided with 16 eggs a month in addition to a 2.5 kg food packet. For children aged between three and six years, one egg a day in addition to rice, dal, vegetables and snacks are supplied.
A total 18,96,844 lactating mothers, 5,18,215 infants and 21,58,479 pregnant women were covered under the scheme at an expenditure of Rs 627.96 crore in the past year. The quantity of food items supplied under the scheme has also been increased across all categories.
Aasara pensions
As a part of its welfare measures and social safety net strategy, the Telangana government has introduced the “Aasara” pensions, with a view to ensure a secured life with dignity for the poor. The “Aasara” pension scheme is meant to protect the most vulnerable sections of society, in particular the old and infirm, people with HIV-AIDS, widows, incapacitated weavers and toddy tappers, who have lost their means of livelihood with growing age, in order to support their day-to-day minimum needs required to lead a life of dignity and social security.
The Telangana government introduced the “Aasara” new pension scheme, enhancing the monthly pension from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 for the old aged, widows, weavers, toddy tappers and AIDS patients and Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 for disabled persons.
The government has spent Rs 4,700 crore last year on pensions benefitting 37, 65, 304 people including senior citizens, widows, physically handicapped, poor and old-aged artistes and beedi workers— an increase of 478% over the previous such schemes.
Rice distribution
Around 87.57 lakh eligible families, approximately 2,86,00,000 (two crore eighty six lakh) beneficiaries, are being supplied rice from 1 January 2015 at 6 kg per person at Re 1 per kg without any ceiling on the number of members in the family.