Telangana to Launch Aasara Pensions for Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Patients from August 15

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has announced that all eligible patients suffering from thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia will be covered under the state's Aasara social security pension scheme. The pensions will be distributed from August 15, offering much-needed financial support to people living with these lifelong genetic blood disorders.

During a review meeting with officials of the Panchayat Raj Department, the Chief Minister directed authorities to immediately begin identifying eligible beneficiaries and complete the approval process without delay. He instructed officials to ensure that pension payments begin as scheduled on Independence Day.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted pension payments under the existing welfare scheme for widows, single women, handloom workers and toddy tappers, asking officials to prevent delays in disbursing benefits to eligible recipients.

In another key decision, Revanth Reddy instructed officials to grant pensions to the spouses of deceased persons with disabilities immediately after their death, without procedural delays. He emphasized that eligible families should receive financial assistance promptly.

Reviewing rural administration, the Chief Minister directed that Mandal Parishad meetings be held once every 45 days, with Members of Parliament, MLAs and MLCs invited to participate. He also instructed that Mandal Parishad Development Officers (MPDOs) monitor development works undertaken by various government departments at the mandal level to improve coordination and implementation.

On infrastructure, the Chief Minister said every village in Telangana should have a bitumen (BT) road and its own Gram Panchayat building, directing officials to prepare plans to achieve these goals.

He also reviewed the Indiramma Free Sarees programme, under which sarees will be distributed to one crore women. Officials were asked to ensure superior fabric quality and attractive designs, while also seeking design inputs from students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

Expressing concern over the possibility of below-normal rainfall due to El Niño conditions, the Chief Minister directed officials from the Rural Water Supply, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and the Irrigation Department to work in coordination and take preventive measures to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply across the state. He stressed that advance planning would be essential to avoid water shortages if rainfall declines in the coming months.