Telangana Govt to Continue Kalyana Lakshmi, Shaadi Mubarak Schemes: Ponnam

HYDERABAD — The Telangana government has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak welfare schemes, stating that the required budget for the current financial year has already been allocated and approved by the state assembly.

Addressing the matter in Hyderabad, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar and Animal Husbandry Minister Vakiti Srihari clarified that the Congress administration has no intention of scrapping the financial assistance programs. The ministers noted that the schemes, originally introduced by the previous administration, are being sustained under the present government.

The clarification comes in the wake of a recent High Court ruling that stayed the operation of eight Government Orders (GOs) governing the implementation of both schemes. Ponnam explained that the state government is filing an appeal before a division bench of the High Court seeking to get the stay vacated and ensure the uninterrupted delivery of benefits.

Ponnam alleged that the GOs issued during the previous government's tenure lacked adequate legal protection, leading to the court's intervention. He stated that the government is currently investigating the circumstances that led to the legal setback.

State officials are actively examining whether the issue arose due to procedural lapses in the legal framework or negligence on the part of the concerned authorities.

Although the High Court has posted the matter for hearing on Sept. 9, the minister stated that the government is preparing to file its counter well ahead of that date to expedite the legal process and protect the interests of beneficiaries under the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes.