NDA government ushering in new era of welfare governance, says Minister Veeranjaneya Swamy

Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription

The View From India Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.

First Day First Show News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.

Today's Cache Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.

Data Point Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers

Health Matters Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there

The Hindu On Books Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.

Minister for Social Welfare Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy addressing the media at the Secretariat in Amaravati on Wednesday.

Minister for Social Welfare, Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens, and Swarna Gramam & Ward Secretariat Systems Dola Sree Bala Veeranjaneya Swamy on Wednesday said the TDP-led NDA government in the State was ushering in a new era of welfare governance aimed at social justice, equal opportunities and empowerment of marginalised communities.

Addressing the media, Mr. Swamy said, as lasting social and economic equality could be achieved only through quality education, skill development, employment, healthcare, and dignified living, extensive reforms were being implemented through welfare hostels, residential schools, study circles, scholarships, skill development initiatives, disability welfare programmes and Swarna Gramam and Ward systems.

Top priority was accorded to educational empowerment, he said, elaborating that under the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme, ₹1,543.17 crore had been released towards fee reimbursement, benefiting 5.40 lakh SC students. Additionally, ₹326.74 crore was provided to 2.51 lakh pre-matric students under the Talliki Vandanam programme.

Free coaching was being offered for NEET, JEE, Civil Services, Group examinations, and DSC recruitment tests. Of the 2,000 candidates trained under DSC coaching, 331 secured teaching jobs, demonstrating the effectiveness of the programme, he said.

Educational standards in Social Welfare Residential Schools and hostels had improved significantly, with pass percentages of 85.32% in SSC and 72.30% in Intermediate, he said, adding that residential schools achieved 89% SSC and 92% Intermediate pass rates. Forty-five students scored above 950 marks in Intermediate, while a hostel student secured 591 marks in SSC. Four Centres of Excellence were being established to prepare students for national-level examinations such as NEET and JEE, he said.

To improve hostel infrastructu