The Telangana government, on Independence Day, unveiled two new welfare programmes – Kanti Velugu, which provides free eye care, and Rythu Bhima, where 28 lakh farmers will be given an insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh.
However, the advertisements to these new schemes ended up hijacking the conversations. The government splashed advertisements for these two new schemes in all the major newspapers. However, eagle-eyed netizens were quick to notice that the ‘family’ shown in both advertisements were the same, only the husband was different in each ad.
“See this. May be the add designer needs #KantiVelugu (eye care) ,” (sic) pointed out one Twitter user, Sree Reddy.
See this.May be the add designer needs #KantiVelugu.@KTRTRS @RaoKavitha @trsharish @TelanganaCMO @CNNnews18 @republic @ndtv @TimesNow @IndiaToday pic.twitter.com/varqOKCDM6
— sree reddy (@sreereddi77) August 14, 2018
Soon, the advertisements began dominating conversation on social media.
“Chief Minister KCR came up with an ad campaign #RythuBima and #
Chief Minister KCR came up with an ad campaign #RythuBima and #KantiVelugu. The wife and child are same but the 'husband' different! What is this saar? #Idemlekka kaka@TelanganaCMO #Telangana #Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/nrThUaEtYW
— Adithya M Reddy (@AdithyaMarri) August 14, 2018
Telangana BJP IT and Social Media Convenor Venkataramana wrote, “These are the pictures used for the publicity of the #RythuBhima and #KantiVelugu schemes. If you observe the pics the same lady and same kid but the man is different this is insulting women of TS. @RaoKavitha should respond on why such pics are used. @KTRTRS also used the same.”
These are the pictures used for the publicity of the #RythuBhima and #KantiVelugu schemes. If you observe the pics the same lady and same kid but the man is different this is insulting women of TS. @RaoKavitha should respond on why such pics are used. @KTRTRS also used the same pic.twitter.com/PZS5xHjXLc
— Venkataramana A (@AerpulaVenkata) August 14, 2018
The government is yet to respond to the advertisement.
Under the Kanti Velugu scheme, screenings will be conducted across the state, with 828 medical teams being constituted. Apart from screenings, they will also provide free medicines, spectacles and arrange for free surgeries, if required.
Telangana anticipates that 4 lakh patients could come forward for surgeries and 40 lakh people will benefit from the free spectacles. The state has earmarked Rs 100 crore for this project.
The Rythu Bima scheme promises to cover 28 lakh farmers, aged between 18 and 59 years. The government will pay the annual premium of Rs 2,271 per farmer for their insurance. So far, it has already paid Rs 636 crore to Life Insurance Corporation.