Bhatti vows caste-based budget allocations

Time of India

4 hours ago

Hyderabad: Riding high on the momentum of social justice following the recent induction of three new ministers, deputy chief minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Monday said the Congress govt would aim to allocate funds proportionate to the population of each caste and community in the 2025–26 state budget.
Speaking at a public meeting in Khammam during the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Gouda Sangham Bhavan, Bhatti said the next budget would reflect the govt's commitment to social equity by enhancing access to education, employment, and welfare for all communities.
"The Congress govt is committed to building an egalitarian society where every section is given equal opportunity. As promised in our manifesto, we conducted a caste census which revealed that BCs constitute 56% of the population," he said.
He added that the govt passed 42% reservation bills for BCs in local bodies and govt jobs and had forwarded the proposal to the Centre. "This is a major achievement of the Indiramma govt," he noted.
Bhatti also credited Telangana's inclusive policies for inspiring the national discourse. "When Rahul Gandhi began advocating the Telangana model, many laughed. But today, it has become a model for the entire country — this is a victory of Telangana's people," he said.
He assured the Goud community that the new building would be completed within a year, alongside a coaching centre for unemployed youth and a statue of Sardar Sarvai Papanna.
Earlier in the day, the deputy CM flagged off 45 battery-operated buses at the Suryapet bus stand. He announced that 79 such buses were sanctioned for the depot and that 2,800 more would soon be launched within Hyderabad's Outer Ring Road. Since the launch of the women's free travel scheme, RTC has issued 182 crore zero-fare tickets, with the govt reimbursing ₹6,088 crore, he added.