Every needy section will be empowered, says KCR

Promises schemes similar to Dalit Bandhu for the needy in phased manner

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday reiterated that schemes similar to the pathbreaking Telangana Dalit Bandhu would be extended to all the needy sections, including tribals, backward classes, economically backward sections among the upper castes and also minorities, in a phased manner, even as he asserted that the ambitious scheme for socio-economic empowerment of Dalits will be implemented in a saturation mode till every Dalit family in the State benefits from it.

The Chief Minister said Dalit Bandhu was launched since Dalits were the most backward section besides facing social and financial discrimination for a long time. “The income generated in the State should reach the deserving sections and priority is being given to the most oppressed first. With a population of more than 75 lakh, Dalits have landholdings of less than 13 lakh acres. Their population is high but they are given fewer opportunities,” he said, addressing a gathering after inducting senior Dalit leader Motkupalli Narsimhulu into the TRS fold at Telangana Bhavan here. He asserted that the State government was committed to reaching out to all sections of society that were suffering.

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Chandrashekhar Rao was categorical in stating that Dalit Bandhu would be implemented across the State, and under no circumstance will he get bogged down or discouraged by the negative forces in his mission to empower Dalits. “The scheme will result in an expenditure of Rs 1.7 lakh crore on the State exchequer over the next seven years, but the State government is determined to implement the scheme that would become a model for the entire country,” he said.

“As per estimates, the State will spend Rs 23 lakh crore totally in the next seven years. Of this, Rs 1.7 lakh crore is a small portion. The government will continuously monitor the progress achieved by the beneficiaries and systems have been put in place for that,” he said. Once operational, the scheme was likely to generate a wealth of over Rs 10 lakh crore as the investment made through Dalit Bandhu scheme would generate more employment opportunities besides fetching returns, he said.

Chandrashekhar Rao reiterated that the scheme would be implemented on saturation mode in Huzurabad Assembly constituency and also for 100 families each in the remaining 118 Assembly constituencies on a pilot basis. While the funds have been released for beneficiaries in Huzurabad constituency, necessary orders will be issued to release over Rs 1,100 crore for implementation of the scheme during this financial year.

The TRS president said the scheme was aimed at empowerment of financially weaker sections and there was no politics involved in it. Though some TRS leaders suggested that the beneficiaries use a photograph of the Chief Minister in the businesses they take up under the scheme, he rejected the idea outright as he was against reaping political benefits out of a socially relevant scheme aimed at Dalit empowerment. “Irrespective of their political affiliations, all the Dalit families will receive benefits under the scheme,” he said.

Rao said committees from village to State level that would also include Dalit resource persons would be established to monitor the implementation of the scheme. He asked the TRS leaders and cadre to ensure the implementation of the Dalit Bandhu scheme and put their best efforts as was done during the statehood movement. He emphasised the need to take steps to educate the beneficiaries not to replicate each other’s businesses since that would have a bearing on the outcome of their activities and show an impact on their income. “We must educate them about appropriate activities that fetch them maximum returns and enable them to employ others,” he said.

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