The state departments of women and child welfare, minority welfare, and backward classes (BC) welfare received larger budget allocations in the Telangana Budget 2024–25, which was unveiled by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Thursday, 25 July. The financial allocation for the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) special development funds, which total Rs 33,124 crore and Rs 17,056 crore, respectively, was also substantial.
In reference to the Department of Women and Child Welfare’s request for Rs 2,736 crore, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti stated that the Congress-led government intended to establish Amma Adarsha patashala committees to oversee the upkeep of Anganwadi schools. Although the budgetary allocation has risen from the Rs 2,131 crore budget forecasts for 2023–24, there has been opposition to the government’s intention to turn Anganwadi facilities into preschools, which was also a major theme in the Deputy Chief Minister’s speech. Teachers’ organisations in Telangana, such as the United Teachers Federation, stated on Sunday, July 21, that the conversion will force the state’s primary schools to close.
“For the SC and ST communities, we have already established several corporations: like the Komaram Bheem Corporation for Adivasis, Santh Seva Lal Corporation for Lambadas, Erukula corporation for Erukulas and two separate corporations for Malas and Madigas,” the Deputy CM said, further noting in his speech that all gurukulas meant for SC, ST, BC and minorities would be brought to a single campus spanning 20 acres.
The Deputy Chief Minister also restated the position of the Congress administration, which is that a caste census will be carried out to count the members of various castes in Telangana.
An additional increase of Rs 9,200 was observed for the Department of BC Welfare, which is a noteworthy rise from the previous budgetary allocation of Rs 6,229 crore. Similarly, the minority welfare department also witnessed an increase of Rs 803 from the previous year’s allocation of Rs 2,200 crore to 2024-25’s allocation of Rs 3,003 crore.
