Kanti Velugu launched in Hanamkonda

Hanamkonda: Coinciding with the Independence Day, the State government has launched three major schemes - Kanti Velugu, aimed at conducting eye screening for about 3.5 crore population in the State, Rythu Bima, insurance scheme for farmers, and 100 per cent subsidy loans to backward communities, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari said.

Formally launching the Kanti Velugu programme at Red Cross Building here on Wednesday, he said that never before such a massive task of conducting screening tests was taken up by any government. It may be noted here that earlier in the day, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao launched Kanti Velugu at Malkapur village in his Gajwel constituency.

“The credit goes to the Chief Minister for visualising such a massive eye care programme, which will set an example for other States to replicate. The government will bear all the expenses for providing spectacles and even in case of surgeries,” Srihari said, expressing confidence that it would earn a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the Telangana government.

The government is spending thousands of crores to ensure piped drinking water to all the households in the State, he said, referring to the Mission Bhagiratha. Welfare programmes such as Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, Kalyanalakshmi, KCR Kits etc have already became popular in the country, he said.

Government Whip Palla Rajeshwar Reddy said that Kanti Velugu programme will be a huge boon for the poor and downtrodden. He appealed to people to make use of the programme, which also provides spectacles, medicines and other equipment free of cost.

Mayor Nannapaneni Narender said that 13 screening test centres have been set up in the city. The Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation has ensured all the facilities for the programme, he added.

Zilla parishad chairperson G Padma said that due to KCR’s efforts Telangana, which witnessed all round development, stood above all others States.

Warangal Lok Sabha member Pasunuri Dayakar and Rajya Sabha member Banda Prakash hailed Kanti Velugu programme as one of the greatest among many introduced by the KCR government.

Urban District Collector Amrapali Kata said that 23 screening teams have been pressed into service across the district. In case of surgeries, the screening teams will refer the patients to regional hospital, she added. Warangal West MLA D Vinay Bhaskar, who presided over the 
meeting, said that the eye care programme would benefit all sections of the people.

Commissioner of Police V Ravinder, Kakatiya Urban Development Authority chairman Marri Yadava Reddy, Farmers Debt Relief Commission chairman Nagurla Venkateshwarlu, DM&HO B Harish Raj, Dr Purnachander Reddy and functionaries of Red Cross Society were present.