Hyderabad, March 3 Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday directed officials to use facial recognition on beneficiaries of welfare schemes to eliminate ineligible individuals during the special 99-day program, which will begin on March 6.
Speaking at a conference with district collectors and other officials, he stated that eligible beneficiaries must definitely receive the benefits of the schemes, while ineligible individuals should not. He said that approximately three lakh ineligible beneficiaries of social security pensions have been identified and removed through facial recognition.
He attributed this large number of ineligible individuals benefiting from the scheme to the ineffective use of technology.
The Chief Minister gave a series of instructions to the officials on various issues.
Reddy called for the promotion of solar energy, emphasizing the need to educate farmers about solar pumps.
He asked the electricity department to raise awareness in villages about installing solar panels on rooftops and generating income by connecting solar panels to the grid.
Reddy directed officials to register the details of hostels for working women, boys, and girls in the three municipal corporations of Greater Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Malkajgiri, as well as other cities and towns.
He stated that the management of educational institutions should be held responsible if the consumption of drugs and other narcotic substances and e-cigarettes is detected on their premises.
He suggested that educational institutions should appoint psychologists, similar to the appointment of teachers and Physical Education Teachers (PETs).
The Chief Minister instructed transport officials to conduct thorough fitness tests for school buses and other vehicles. He also suggested conducting eye tests for drivers of state-run RTC buses and private vehicles. He said that the transport department should take measures such as repairing potholes on highways to reduce accidents.
The state government had previously announced a special 99-day program, from March 6 to June 12, to more effectively deliver the benefits of government welfare and development programs to the people. The 99-day program will be conducted in five phases, the release stated.
The program will have 10 themes, including cleanliness from the village level to the state level, clearance of pending files in government offices, health, welfare, child security, drug abuse control, farmer welfare, education, youth and sports, women, environment, and road safety.
The release also stated that preparatory meetings will be held on March 6 under the leadership of ministers. The 99-day program, named "Praja Palana - Pragati Pranalika" (people's governance - plan for progress) will have a special mobile app, it added.