81,879 availed Gutka sale in marriage sop state dipping

Hyderabad: As many as 81,879 girls from SC/ ST categories were given `51,000 each under Kalyana Lakshmi scheme towards marriage expenses so far, the state government informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Minister for SC development G. Jagadish Reddy said steps were being taken to disburse the amount on the day of marriage itself against existing the method of giving the amount to parents after the marriage is solemnised.

He said there were 52,205 beneficiaries were from the SC community and 29,674 from STs.

Mr Reddy said that the government was thoroughly verifying applicants after complaints of some brokers misusing the scheme to siphon off the funds were received. Hyderabad: Sporadic cases of sale of gutka and pan masala have been detected in the state, according to health minister C. Laxma Reddy.

The minister told the Assembly on Wednesday that 545 cases were booked for sale of gutka and pan masala in violation of prohibition orders and `50,00,123 collected as fine as per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

The minister said that the government has slapped criminal cases on 43 manufacturers for “Not of Standard drugs” and three criminal cases against a manufacturer for “spurious drugs.” Trial is pending.

He said that during 2015 and 2016, 8,293 drug samples were collected by drug inspectors in the state, of which 46 were declared “Not of standard quality” which accounts for 0.005 per cent.