The minister said Telangana’s welfare schemes such as Aasara Pension, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and 24-hour free electricity supply to farming communities were not implemented in any other state in the country.
Updated – Tuesday, December 20 at 04:28pm

RAJANNA-SIRCILLA: Impressed by Telangana’s welfare and development plans, IT Minister KT Rama Rao said on Tuesday that people in neighboring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka have asked for their villages to be merged with the state.
“Now, as many as 14 villages from Maharashtra want to merge with Telangana. Likewise, people in Raichur, apart from MLA and ministers from Karnataka, are also asking for merger with Telangana,” Rama said. Rao said he inaugurated the new Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya in Rudrangi, Vemulawada constituency. It cost Rs 3.5 lakh to build.
Addressing the public at the time, the minister said that Telangana’s welfare schemes such as Aasara Pension, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and 24-hour free electricity supply to farming communities have not been implemented in any other state in the country.
In 2014, the pension was expanded to 2.6 million people and now it has been extended to 4.6 million people, and the pension amount has been increased to Rs. 2,000. Likewise, in the past, Rythu Bandhu provided assistance of Rs 65,000 crore to 6.6 million farmers. For this season, Rythu Bandhu will be extended from next Wednesday and Rs 7,600 crore will be given to farmers, he said.
“Unfortunately, all these works have gone unnoticed by the Opposition. All they have done is insult and curse Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. Regardless of their allegations, you should free him from the curse and bless him with all your heart He,” the minister said, adding that if the opposition parties are really committed to Telangana’s welfare, they should convince their leadership and help implement more welfare schemes to win hearts and minds.
