Poverty, Caste Should Not Come in the Way of Education: Former Minister Harish Rao

Former Telangana minister and BRS Deputy Floor Leader T Harish Rao said poverty and caste should never become barriers to education, urging students to remain determined and work hard to achieve their ambitions.

Harish Rao was speaking as the chief guest at a merit awards ceremony organised by the Navjeevan Employees Welfare Society (NEWS) in Siddipet. He presented awards to Dalit students who excelled in Class 10 and encouraged them to pursue higher education with confidence.

Referring to the contributions of Dr B R Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram, Harish Rao said the reservation system secured through their efforts had enabled many disadvantaged sections to access education and reach prominent positions.

He appreciated NEWS employees for contributing ₹1,000 each from their monthly salaries and creating a ₹10 lakh fund to support poor students. He also highlighted the efforts of Rohith, who donated his first-year salary of ₹6 lakh, and Sreeja, an MBBS student who is funding her second-year education.

Harish Rao said he would take responsibility for helping Dalit students who secure seats in government medical colleges but struggle to pay their fees, enabling them to pursue medical education and become doctors. He also announced ₹1 lakh financial assistance to NEWS.

Targeting the Congress government, he alleged that although ₹5,403 crore was allocated to the SC Corporation, only ₹74 crore had been spent, largely on salaries and electricity bills. He accused the government of delaying fee reimbursement and scholarships, leaving students and colleges in difficulty.

Harish Rao claimed the previous BRS government had released ₹19,000 crore towards these commitments. He also questioned the implementation of the Dalit Bandhu scheme and alleged that a substantial portion of SC funds remained unspent.

He said the BRS would continue to fight in the Assembly for students' rights and educational funding. He urged students to maintain discipline, study diligently for four to five years and make their parents and Siddipet proud.