Congress grievance programme aims to resolve people’s issues, says Shabbir Ali

Hyderabad: Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the Congress grievance programme would help resolve genuine public grievances.

Speaking at Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday, Shabbir Ali said the government wanted to ensure that eligible people did not lose welfare benefits.

He said procedural hurdles, lack of awareness and application errors should not deny genuine beneficiaries access to schemes.

The face-to-face programme received 78 petitions during the latest session. The complaints covered ration cards, housing, land and passbook issues.

Applicants also raised concerns about admissions to government schools and colleges. The programme helped officials and party workers assess welfare delivery at the grassroots.

Shabbir Ali said this was his second participation in the initiative. He added that organisers had conducted the programme in a more systematic manner this time.

Some applicants arrived without properly prepared representations. Therefore, organisers arranged assistance at Gandhi Bhavan to help them complete their applications.

The team corrected deficiencies and scrutinised cases before forwarding them to the concerned departments. Officials also contacted departmental officers and district Collectors when required.

Shabbir Ali said the team would seek solutions for genuine grievances in line with government rules. He stressed that submitting an application alone did not guarantee approval.

He also expressed surprise that some families still lacked ration cards. The government, he said, had repeatedly urged eligible families to apply for them.

The issue, according to Shabbir Ali, showed that some families still lacked information about welfare benefits. He cited the case of a Congress worker’s wife who sought help.

She told the programme that her family had neither a ration card nor a house. Her husband had worked for the Congress party for several years, she said.

Housing-related petitions also featured prominently during the programme. Some applicants sought double-bedroom houses built during the previous BRS government.

Certain such houses are now being allotted through a lottery system. Other applicants raised issues concerning Indiramma housing.

Shabbir Ali said some Indiramma housing beneficiaries had received their first instalment after completing the basement stage. However, later instalments stopped in some cases.

Official records showed motorcycle, car or tractor ownership in those cases. The team was examining such petitions individually and referring them to the concerned officials.

Several applicants had also approached Prajavani and other offices more than once. Yet, some continued to face difficulties because they did not understand why their applications were rejected.

The organisers counselled such applicants and explained the documents or corrections they needed. Where rules allowed, the team would help make applications eligible again in the online system.

Congress grievance programme also addresses education concerns

The Congress grievance programme has also brought a growing number of education-related requests. Parents sought admissions for their children in government schools and colleges.

They also approached the programme regarding BC, Minority, SC and ST Gurukul institutions. Some parents wanted to move their children from private schools to government institutions.

Shabbir Ali said parents were citing breakfast, uniforms and improved education facilities as reasons for the shift. He said confidence in government education was growing.

He alleged that around 4,000 schools had closed during the previous BRS regime. According to him, several of these schools were now reopening or becoming functional again.

He also referred to enrolment trends in government Intermediate colleges. Earlier, some rural colleges had faced concerns over low enrolment, he said.

That situation was changing, Shabbir Ali said. Admissions had become competitive at several institutions.

He cited a recent review involving one Intermediate college. Its enrolment had increased from about 600 students to 1,200 this year.

The college has 12 rooms and sought another 12 rooms to accommodate the higher intake. Shabbir Ali said the government was prepared to provide funds for additional infrastructure.

He said such construction could involve expenditure of around Rs 20 lakh in individual cases. The government would provide support where additional rooms and facilities were needed.

Shabbir Ali credited Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy with steps to strengthen government education. Revanth Reddy also oversees the Education portfolio.

He referred to breakfast, improved uniforms and better food quality in government institutions. He also cited a roughly 40% increase in diet charges.

Certain student-related charges had also increased by up to 200%, he said. Teacher appointments and infrastructure improvements were other factors he linked to renewed public confidence.

The programme also receives grievances from elderly people. Shabbir Ali said people aged between 85 and 90 years had approached Gandhi Bhavan for assistance.

The team explained procedures to them in language they could understand. It also guided applicants on documents and other requirements.

Shabbir Ali said every petition could not receive automatic approval. Authorities must sanction welfare benefits according to prescribed rules.

However, he said the Congress would recommend genuine cases. The party would also try to provide either a solution or a clear response.

TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud constituted the team for the programme. Shabbir Ali described the initiative as a bridge between the government, Congress party and public.

He praised Senior General Secretary Jagadish and his team for organising the programme. He also thanked Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Mahesh Kumar Goud for creating the platform.

Some beneficiaries have already returned to inform organisers that earlier grievances were resolved. Shabbir Ali cited ration card cases among those that had received solutions.

Some of those beneficiaries were now seeking housing assistance, he added. The development showed the programme’s continuing role in follow-up after petitions.

The Congress grievance programme is intended to go beyond collecting petitions at Gandhi Bhavan. Its stated aim is to guide applicants and ensure that genuine cases receive proper follow-up.

Shabbir Ali said applicants who approach the programme with trust should not leave without guidance. He added that the team would make every possible effort to prevent people from losing confidence in the system.