With an eye on the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress government in Telangana led by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is working to launch two major components of its flagship ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme. These encompass providing subsidized LPG gas cylinders priced at Rs 500 to homes and monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to eligible women across the state.
The move comes after the recently concluded ‘Praja Palana’ public outreach program from December 28th to January 6th, which garnered an enthusiastic response specifically for the two promises committed under the Mahalakshmi umbrella initiative.
Over 1.8 Cr Applications Received
As per official data, an impressive 92.23 lakh women registered for the monthly monetary assistance offer. At the same time, 91.49 lakh women applied to avail LPG cylinders at the heavily discounted rate of Rs 500 per cylinder.
The numbers add up to over 1.8 crore applications just for these two guarantees that form key highlights of the broader Mahalakshmi scheme. The other major element currently active is free TSRTC bus travel for female commuters in Telangana.
However, promising Rs 2,500 in monthly aid to women and Rs 500 subsidized LPG cylinders was a crucial poll plank for Congress ahead of the 2018 Telangana assembly elections. With Lok Sabha polls now a little over a year away, the state government is pulling all stops to launch these before the Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct restrictions kick in.
Telangana Govt Plans Subsidized LPG, Financial Aid for Women
The idea is to maximize visibility and draw favorable comparisons for the party by delivering on vital welfare promises made earlier to female voters. If the state machinery effectively rolls out monthly monetary support and cheap LPG to identified beneficiaries at scale, it could give Congress an advantage both in perception and on-ground outreach.
The Chief Minister recently returned from visits to Davos, London and Dubai. As per sources, he has instructed officials to start groundwork so that the two aforementioned guarantees under Mahalakshmi can be formally launched within the next few months across both Hyderabad and smaller Telangana districts. Congress will hope that tangibly fulfilling key assurances around women’s welfare, livelihoods and household expenditure will boost its prospects in the 2024 electoral battle.
