Dalit Bandhu: Impasse still continues over disbursal of second installment

It is learnt that a few of the beneficiaries had closed their units due to various reasons, prompting the government to conduct an inquiry on the sanctioning and functioning of Dalit Bandhu units.

Karimnagar: Despite the State government’s nod, the impasse over release of the second installment of the Dalit Bandhu scheme is still continuing.

After 13 months of struggle by the beneficiaries, the State government had on January 27 issued orders unfreezing Dalit Bandhu accounts, which were frozen soon after the Congress came to power in December 2023. Though the government gave its nod this year, the situation had continued due to the Graduates and Teachers MLC election code. Even if the code was lifted by March 8, the beneficiaries are unable to withdraw the amount from their accounts. Ongoing verification of grounding and functioning of the units sanctioned in the first phase is said to be the reason for the stalemate.

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It is learnt that a few of the beneficiaries had closed their units due to various reasons, prompting the government to conduct an inquiry on the sanctioning and functioning of Dalit Bandhu units.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Dalit Bandhu Sadana Samithi member Suresh said though the government had issued orders unfreezing Dalit Bandhu accounts on January 27, it was not implemented due to the MLC election code. When they met District Collector Pamela Satpathy on March 10, she had informed about the enquiry into units grounded in the first phase, he said.

Suresh wanted the government to release the second installment without delay since it would be further delayed if the local body elections code came into force. A few beneficiaries, who established units with the first installment, had to close their units due to the delay in the release of the second installment. Unable to pay room rents and spent money for other expenses, some of them were forced to wind up their units. So, the second installment units should be grounded without any conditions since about 5000 beneficiaries were eagerly waiting for it, Suresh said.

In order to bring a comprehensive change in the lives of dalits, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had launched the scheme on August 16, 2021. Though the scheme was designed to provide Rs.10 lakh to each beneficiary, Rs.5 lakh was sanctioned towards the first installment to a few beneficiaries who chose small scale units. Though the total amount of Rs.10 lakh was deposited in bank accounts, some of the beneficiaries had not started their units. Instead of starting units, a few beneficiaries had tried to withdraw the interest, following which the current government instructed the District Collector to freeze Dalit Bandhu bank accounts. Based on the government’s instructions, the Collector on December 13, 2023 instructed bankers to freeze the Dalit Bandhu accounts.

Since then, the impasse has continued in the issue.