Harish Rao demands clearance of pending Kalyana Lakshmi applications

BRS Legislature Party (BRSLP) deputy leader T Harish Rao on Friday accused the Congress government of weakening the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes, claiming that nearly two lakh applications had been pending for a year and financial assistance to beneficiaries was being delayed.

He demanded immediate clearance of the pending applications, implementation of the Congress’ promise to provide gold and continuation of both schemes without political interference.

Marking the schemes’ 12th anniversary, Harish Rao said the



initiative launched by former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had evolved into a social reform programme by easing marriage expenses for poor families and helping prevent child marriages.

Recalling the scheme’s origins, Harish Rao said Chandrashekhar Rao was moved by the plight of tribal farmer Banothu Keemanayak, whose savings of Rs 50,000 and gold kept for his daughter’s wedding were destroyed in a fire at Gutthuru Thanda in Mulugu mandal in March 2002. Chandrashekhar Rao subsequently helped arrange the marriage, an experience that, he said, inspired the scheme.