Express News Service
Hyderabad, March 5
In its first major bait to voters, the main Opposition Telugu Desam Party
(TDP) assured to distribute 'cash with colour television' to voters.
TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu today said that his party, if voted to
power, will introduce a novel programme `Cash Transfer Scheme' (CTS) to help
the poor overcome the problems of poverty and improve their quality of
life.
The CTS will ensure transfer of Government money to bank accounts of
beneficiaries every month on a specified day to ensure 'happy and healthy'
families.
TDP plans to deposit Rs 2,000 for the poorest of the poor, Rs 1,500 for the
poor and Rs 1,000 for middle class every month.
For this, TDP proposes to open bank accounts in the name of elder women
member of the family, irrespective of who the beneficiary in the family was.
They can withdraw the money through the ATMs. "Like salaries, the poor
families will get money from the Government every month,'' Naidu explained.
However, Naidu added that the social security pensions would be integrated
with the proposed Cash Transfer Scheme. However, others like dole to youth
and free-rice and other 'kind' will not come under CTS.
The CTS was proposed to improve the living standards of the poor. The
scheme will have an immediate effect on the income of the poor beneficiary
families, alleviating their poverty, Naidu explained.
As the families will get regular income, they would not have to send their
wards to work. Thus, child labour will be eradicated. Beneficiaries can buy
nutritious food thereby reduce the child mortality rate, improvement of
child, mother and family health. The CTS will help curb malnutrition
problems, ensures security for the aged, physically challenged, single
women and widows.
Significant reduction in hunger levels will be achieved by providing direct
funds to families which will be available for meeting their food
requirements. Thus, the CTS will ensure food and social security.
The scheme will reduce poverty on a long-term basis and usher in
socio-economic development.
The CTS will ensure proper management of public resources, as the money
will be deposited directly in the accounts in nationalised banks of
beneficiaries. This will also make available banking facility and ATM cards
to the poor.
TDP chief alleged that now the poor were receiving only Rs 5 out of every
Rs 100 spent by the Congress Government. As the money would be transferred
to bank accounts under the proposed CTS scheme, there would be greater
transparency and accountability, he added.
CTVs: Naidu also announced that one colour television set would be
distributed to each poor family, if TDP is voted to power. The scheme was
intended to spread the knowledge through TVs. Naidu admitted that he took
inspiration form Tamil Nadu for promising CTVs to the poor. He, however,
said that he did not work out the modalities for this. Naidu also promised
to provide free power supply to CTVs, two bulbs and one fan.
He also assured to waive entertainment tax on cable TV and health insurance
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