AP Government to Relaunch ‘Garuda’ Scheme for Poor Brahmin Families

The Andhra Pradesh coalition government will soon relaunch the ‘Garuda’ scheme , a welfare programme aimed at supporting economically weak Brahmin families , Minister for BC and EWS Welfare S. Savita said on Friday.

The scheme will provide ₹10,000 as financial assistance to Brahmin families to meet funeral expenses when a family member passes away. The minister said the initiative is intended to reduce the financial burden on poor families during emotionally difficult times.

Minister Savita reviewed the scheme’s guidelines at the Secretariat along with Brahmin Corporation Chairman K. Buchchirampasad and Managing Director Chinnababu . She said the government is finalising the process and the scheme will be launched shortly.

The minister said the Brahmin Corporation was established in 2014 during the tenure of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to improve the economic conditions of the community. Several welfare schemes were introduced at the time, but many of them became inactive after the change of government in 2019 due to policy shifts and lack of budget support, she said.

According to the minister, delays in issuing new guidelines and administrative approvals also affected the continuation of corporation-based welfare schemes, including Garuda. The present government is now working to revive these stalled programmes and restore benefits to eligible families.

Highlighting steps taken for the welfare of temple priests (archakas) , Minister Savita said the government has increased the honorarium under the Dhoopa Deepa Naivedyam scheme from ₹3,000 to ₹7,000 per month . An additional ₹3,000 has been sanctioned to cover ritual-related expenses, and the required government order has already been issued.

She also said priests working in temples with an annual income of less than ₹50,000 will now receive a monthly honorarium of ₹15,000 , up from ₹10,000. In addition, unemployed Vedic scholars are being given ₹3,000 per month as financial support under the ‘Sambhavana’ scheme .

The minister said the government will soon begin approving loans for self-employment through the Brahmin Corporation. “Our aim is to provide economic security and development opportunities for Brahmins,” she said.

The relaunch of the Garuda scheme is expected to offer timely financial support to poor Brahmin families during times of loss.