The Congress Government of Telangana has launched many welfare schemes for the benefit of poor and deserving people of the state. The most recent of these schemes include six guarantees which are being implemented at war footing. It has launched the scheme dubbed as ‘PrajaPalana programme’ to receive applications from lakhs of eligible beneficiaries to provide Rs 500 gas cylinders, Rs 2,500 monthly financial assistance to women, housing for the poor, and other promises made in the six guarantees.The government has already implemented free travel in RTC buses for women and an increase in Aarogyasri amount to Rs 6 lakh.
Seen in the light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the welfare schemes are being taken as freebies and an election plank. If the government has launched all these welfare schemes to serve the poor sections of the society, it is well and good. But, if there is some election motive behind it, the voters are not foolish enough to fall prey to it.
Abdul Rafey
Warangal, Telangana
It’s drug menace,once again
When you consume something prohibited legally or morally, you are at the risk of being caught, and humiliation and disgrace will be there to greet you. This is what has happened in Maharashtra. The police raided a rave party near Mumbai on the night of December 30 and detained around 80 people for consuming drugs at the party. Two organisers of the party have been also arrested.Drugs, including LSD, charas, ecstasy, and marijuana, were reported to have been recovered from the party.
The police said that invites to the rave, near the Vadavali Creek in Thane, were sent to hundreds on Instagram. “We have arrested the organisers of the party – Tejas Kubal and Sujal Mahajan. Some people from outside Maharashtra are suspected to be involved. Those who attended were mostly students and those who work in the corporate sector,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shivraj Patil reportedly said.
This case seems to be an organised drug menace. The government as well as the civil society members need to ensure that society turns drug-free. Only then you can see peace prevailing in society.
Muhammad Hasibuddin
Aurangabad, Maharashtra
Somalia, Somaliland to resolve disputes
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and his Somaliland counterpart Muse Bihi have agreed to resume negotiations and create a roadmap to achieve a solution to long-standing issues. Multiple reports citing the Somali National News Agency said a consultative meeting that concluded in Djibouti on December 29, under the mediation of President Ismail Omar Guelleh between Sheikh Mahmoud and Bihi, held discussions on confronting issues, including enhancing bilateral cooperation.
Reports confirm that they agreed to commence dialogue between the entities with a focus on long-standing issues to reach a permanent solution, and to “develop a roadmap which is expected to serve as a guideline for future discussions and the resolution of issues.”
As helping two disputing individuals, parties or groups to agree to unity and peace is a great virtue in the Islamic scheme of things, President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti deserves all praise and commendation for helping Somalia and Somaliland to come to the negotiation table. Other disputing nations may follow suit in the greater interest of world peace.
Kashif Ghani
Kolkata, West Bengal