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Dalits will prosper: KCR

Asks people of Huzurabad to support the beneficiaries and make the scheme a grand success and set an example for the entire country

By Telangana Today

Updated On - 17 August 2021, 12:35 AM

Dalits will prosper: KCR — Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao addresses a gathering while launching the Dalit Bandhu scheme in Huzurabad on Monday

Huzurabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday rued that despite the Scheduled Caste community being the single largest group with a population of 75 lakh in the State, about 25 per cent of SCs in the State live in abject poverty.

Stating that they had faced socio-economic discrimination for several generations, the Chief Minister said this unfortunate run of the community would end with the Dalit Bandhu scheme. Urging the people of Huzurabad Assembly constituency to support the beneficiaries and make the scheme a grand success, the Chief Minister, launching the scheme at Shalapally on Monday, said, “Huzurabad constituency should set an example for the entire country. It is time that discrimination towards Dalits ends and they are given opportunities to prosper,” he added.

Chandrashekhar Rao reiterated that the beneficiaries were free to choose their profession — self-employment or business models — to utilise the funds under the Dalit Bandhu scheme. The officials will guide the beneficiaries who are unable to decide on the business ventures. He said the entire Rs 10 lakh will be given as a grant and urged the beneficiaries to strive to earn Rs 20 lakh over the next one year using the funds. “We will implement reservations for SCs in government contracts and licenced shops like fertilizers and medical shops. They must strive hard to turn this scheme into a movement that will create history in other States as well,” he emphasised.

To ensure that the scheme is implemented effectively and the funds are not misused, the Chief Minister has developed a fool-proof mechanism. District Collectors will facilitate the opening of new bank accounts for the beneficiaries and deposit the financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each into these bank accounts. The beneficiaries will be given special debit cards to withdraw the amount as per their needs. The officials will monitor the expenditure and progress of each beneficiary towards their socio-economic empowerment.

Further, the State government will form Dalit Bandhu Samithis on the lines of Rythu Bandhu Samithis at the village, mandal, Assembly constituency, district and State levels. A strong force of about one lakh will be created to monitor and support the beneficiaries for effective implementation of the scheme.

Further, about 25,000 Dalit elected representatives also will be involved in the implementation of the scheme. Together, they will control the proposed Dalit Protection Fund which will be used to help the beneficiaries in case of any setbacks suffered in their ventures.

Rahul Bojja to oversee scheme

In a related development, the Chief Minister transferred SC Development Secretary Rahul Bojja and posted him as Secretary to the Chief Minister for effective implementation of the Dalit Bandhu scheme. Rahul Bojja is the son of human rights advocate and activist Bojja Tharakam.

KCR slams oppn for skewed view on scheme

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday slammed the Opposition parties for creating unnecessary confusion among the people over the implementation of the Telangana Dalit Bandhu scheme, for their political gains. He ridiculed them for coming up with absurd demands and arguments, though none of them provided funds or sought implementation of such schemes till now.

Addressing a massive gathering at the launch of the Dalit Bandhu scheme in Shalapally here, the Chief Minister pointed out that none of the Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers or any other leader from any of these political parties, had earlier made any attempt to address the socio-economic discrimination towards Dalits on such a large scale. He said his detractors had always raised doubts over all his initiatives ranging from the Telangana movement to free power and Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme to Mission Bhagiratha.

“None of them spoke about Dalit empowerment before I announced the scheme. Today, even those who had done nothing for the cause and those not in a position to spend a paisa, are coming up with demands. This means that we are on the right path. Otherwise, why would they be so bothered about the implementation of the scheme when neither the government nor the beneficiaries have any problem?” he questioned.

Chandrashekhar Rao stated that politics was a game for the Opposition parties, but for TRS, it was a responsibility to achieve social goals in Telangana State. He said he chose Huzurabad constituency to launch the scheme on a pilot basis since several other schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima were also launched from Karimnagar district and were yielding great results. “Dalit Bandhu scheme is another major movement for Telangana and its people, next only to separate Statehood movement,” he said.

In a clarion call to the people of Telangana, Chandrashekhar Rao appealed to the entire State population to extend their support for the empowerment of SCs. He pointed out that SCs never questioned the welfare and developmental schemes being implemented for other communities in the State. “People must not fall for the propaganda of detractors. The Telangana government is moving ahead with a broad vision of doing justice to every community in the State in a planned manner,” he said.

He said the onus of successful implementation of the scheme was on intellectuals, government employees and students from the Dalit community. He urged them to create awareness about the scheme among the Dalits and ensure that the beneficiaries improve their lives.

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