Telangana showers sops on SC/ST, Archakas, Imams and Mouzams

: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today announced a slew of welfare measures for some sections of people, including SCs and STs, archakas imams and Mouzams.

An official release said the chief minister announced free power up to 101 units for domestic usage for SCs and STs.

Quoting Rao, the release said that in view of increased usage of electrical appliances, power consumption has been increased. Hence the present facility of 50 Units free power to SCs and STs is enhanced to 101 units, it said.

The power charges that would be incurred towards this would be borne by the government and paid to the DISCOMS, it said.

Archakas performing poojas in Hindu temples, which come the purview of the state endowment department, would be paid salaries directly on par with government employees henceforth.

He said the amounts would be paid from the treasury with effect from September 1, 2018.

As and when the pay revision is implemented to government employees, the same will be made applicable to the Archakas also," the release quoted the CM as saying.

The retirement age of Archakas will be 65 years instead of the present retirement age of 58 years.

Rao also announced an increase in salaries of employees working in the 29 Mini Gurukulams.

The Chief Minister said Imams and Mouzams who perform prayers in Masjids will be paid Rs 5,000 monthly with effect from September 1, 2018.

Nearly 9000 Imams and Mouzams performing prayers in masjids will be benefitted with this decision, it said.

Rao also announced that land and funds would be provided for constructing the Self Respect Building complexes (Aatma Gaurava Bhavans) in Hyderabad city for all castes.

At an estimated expenditure of Rs 10 crore and in 10 acres of land, a Self Respect building complex (Atma Gaurava Bhavan) would be constructed, benefitting 36 Nomad castes, he said.