The Praja Palana Scheme, also known as the Abhaya Hastham or Telangana 6 Guarantee Scheme, was introduced in December 2023 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana. It is a comprehensive welfare program aimed at providing financial assistance and essential services to vulnerable sections of society. This initiative, part of the government’s larger social welfare agenda, includes several schemes that focus on empowering women, supporting farmers, improving household conditions, and providing pensions to disabled individuals and vulnerable groups.
Telangana Praja Palana Scheme 2024
The Praja Palana Scheme encompasses five key initiatives, each targeting different sectors of society. These schemes are designed to improve the standard of living and provide security to eligible citizens.
Mahalakshmi Scheme
This scheme is aimed at financially empowering women by offering:
- Monthly Financial Assistance: ₹2,500 per month to women to support household expenses.
- Subsidized Gas Cylinders: Provision of cooking gas at a highly reduced rate of ₹500 per cylinder, ensuring affordability for low-income families.
Rythu Bharosa
This scheme is focused on providing financial relief to farmers and agricultural workers:
- Annual Financial Support for Farmers: ₹15,000 per acre is provided to both land-owning farmers and tenant farmers to reduce financial burdens and support agricultural productivity.
- Support for Agricultural Laborers: Farm laborers receive an annual financial aid of ₹12,000 to assist with their livelihood.
Gruha Jyothi Scheme
The Gruha Jyothi Scheme ensures access to essential utilities by providing:
- Free Electricity: 200 units of electricity are given free of charge to households every month, aimed at reducing the financial burden of utility bills.
Indiramma Illu
This scheme offers housing support, particularly to individuals affected by the Telangana state movement:
- Financial Assistance for House Construction: This provision helps individuals construct their homes, especially those from economically weaker sections.
- Housing for Movement Participants: Special consideration is given to those who contributed to the Telangana state movement, with 250 square yards of land allocated for house construction for Udhyamakarulu (movement participants) and martyrs.
Cheyutha
This scheme provides essential pensions for vulnerable groups:
- Disability Pension: ₹6,000 per month for disabled individuals, ensuring they have adequate financial support for their needs.
- Vulnerable Group Pension: ₹4,000 per month for old-age pensioners, widows, toddy tappers, weavers, dialysis patients, HIV-AIDS patients, filaria patients, single women, beedi workers, and contractors.
Application and Implementation
The Praja Palana application was launched by the Chief Minister on December 27, 2023. The application process, aimed at collecting requests for the five guarantee schemes, was available through designated Praja Palana centers and ward offices from December 28, 2023, to January 6, 2024. During this time, a staggering 1.28 crore applications were submitted, with 1.09 crore applying specifically for the five-guarantee schemes. This high demand required an efficient system to handle the massive inflow of requests and ensure smooth processing.
The Centre for Good Governance (CGG) was appointed as the technology partner to manage the scheme’s application, data processing, and distribution phases. The system enabled de-duplication, categorization, and verification of applications, ensuring the right benefits reached the right people. CGG developed a mobile application for field verification, a payment data integration system for selected applicants, and dashboards for officials to monitor the progress.
Benefits of the Telangana Praja Palana Scheme 2024
The Telangana Praja Palana Scheme 2024 offers several key benefits to eligible citizens, which include:
- Monthly Financial Assistance: Women beneficiaries will receive ₹2,500 per month.
- Subsidized Cooking Gas: A gas cylinder will be available at ₹500 for households.
- Free Electricity: 200 units of electricity provided free to eligible households.
- Pension for Vulnerable Groups: Monthly pensions of ₹4,000 for senior citizens, widows, and other eligible groups.
- Farmer and Laborer Support: Financial assistance of ₹15,000 per acre for farmers and ₹12,000 for agricultural laborers.
- Housing Assistance: Financial aid for house construction and provision of land for housing martyrs and movement participants.
TS Praja Palana Scheme Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for the Praja Palana Scheme varies based on the specific sub-schemes under the program. Some key eligibility requirements include:
- Age Criteria: For pension schemes, applicants must meet the minimum age criteria set for senior citizens and vulnerable groups.
- Income Criteria: The scheme primarily targets low-income households, farmers, agricultural laborers, and economically weaker sections of society.
Required Documents for Application
Applicants need to submit the following documents to apply for the scheme:
- Aadhar Card: For identity proof.
- Residence Certificate: To establish a domicile in Telangana.
- Passport-sized Photograph: For identification purposes.
- Mobile Number: For communication and updates.
- Bank Account Details: For direct benefit transfers (DBT).
Important Dates
- Application Start Date: December 28, 2023
- Application End Date: January 6, 2024
How to Apply for Praja Palana and Application Status
Follow these simple steps to apply for the Praja Palana Scheme:
- Collect the Application Form: Available for free at Praja Palana Centers and ward offices.
- Fill Out the Form: Provide personal details, Aadhar number, address, income details, and select the relevant scheme.
- Attach Documents: Include required documents such as Aadhar Card, Residence Certificate, passport-size photograph, and bank details for Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- Submit the Form: Submit your application at the designated center or office before January 6, 2024.
- Track Application Status: Visit the official website serp.ap.gov.in/AHAP using your application reference number to check the status.
Applicants can check their application status by visiting the official website and entering their reference number. This will provide real-time updates on the progress of their application and whether they are eligible for the scheme benefits.
The Telangana Praja Palana Scheme 2024 is a transformative welfare initiative aimed at improving the lives of Telangana residents, particularly women, farmers, and vulnerable groups. By offering financial assistance, housing support, free electricity, and pensions, this scheme reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive development and social security for all citizens.