The Telangana Cabinet, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has greenlit significant Bills, including those targeting hate speech and enhancing gig workers’ welfare. These Bills, namely the Hate Speech and Hate Crime (Prevention) Bill and the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security, and Welfare) Bill, are set for introduction in the ongoing state legislative session. With around 4.2 lakh gig workers and platform-based workers in Telangana, the new legislation aims to establish worker registration, a Welfare Board, and a Welfare Fund.
In addition to these Bills, the Cabinet also approved the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill to safeguard lawyers from attacks and provide necessary protection. Furthermore, the government is expediting the process of taking over Hyderabad’s existing 69-kilometer Metro Rail network from L&T, with a proposed payment of ₹15,000 crore, including outstanding debts. The Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) will oversee these financial transactions on behalf of the government.
Moreover, the Cabinet endorsed a report by an independent expert group on the state’s caste census and formed a sub-committee to finalize the Rohit Vemula Act, aimed at combating caste discrimination in educational institutions. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will lead this sub-committee, comprising several ministers. Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned the ‘Parents’ Support Bill,’ which entails a deduction from public representatives’ and employees’ salaries if they neglect their elderly parents, with the deducted amount allocated to the parents.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had previously highlighted the necessity for legislation to address hate speech and hate crimes, emphasizing social harmony and the protection of vulnerable groups. The approved Bill aligns with the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025. Notably, the Congress party had pledged similar legislation for gig workers’ welfare and the Rohit Vemula Act during the 2023 elections, with Rahul Gandhi urging the Telangana government to enact the latter to combat caste discrimination in educational settings.
