Newly married couples eligible for Dalit Bandhu, says Koppula

Karimnagar: Welfare Minister Koppula Eshwar, describing Telangana Dalit Bandhu as a model for the entire nation, said on Thursday that no government in the history of the nation had thought of implementing such a scheme for Dalit empowerment. “For the first time, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao introduced the scheme to improve the living conditions […]

Karimnagar: Welfare Minister Koppula Eshwar, describing Telangana Dalit Bandhu as a model for the entire nation, said on Thursday that no government in the history of the nation had thought of implementing such a scheme for Dalit empowerment.

“For the first time, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao introduced the scheme to improve the living conditions of Dalits in the State. Though governments in the past introduced several schemes for the welfare of Dalits in the country, no change had taken place in the lives of the community people,” he said.

Considering the fact that 90 per cent of Dalits were poor, the Chief Minister introduced Dalit Bandhu to eradicate poverty among Dalits and help them lead life on their own, the Minister said, participating in Dalit Bandhu awareness programme held in Ambedkar colony of Jammikunta town.

“Earlier, there were schemes with 20, 30 or even 40 per cent subsidy. However, Dalits used to face problems with bankers in availing loans. Now, under Dalit Bandhu, Rs 10 lakh was being deposited in the bank accounts of beneficiaries and they don’t have to repay it,” Eshwar said, and advised beneficiaries to select profit making businesses after thoroughly discussing with family members.

Stating that it was not an ordinary scheme, he said that no country in the world was implementing such a scheme. Newly married couples from Dalit families are also eligible for the scheme, he said.

Clarifying doubts, he said there was no need to doubt the scheme since each and every Dalit family would be provided Rs 10 lakhs. Responding to BJP leaders’ criticism on Dalit Bandhu, the Minister advised BJP leaders to take steps to sanction another Rs 10 lakh from the Central government to help Dalits.

BJP came to power at the centre seven years ago when the separate Telangana State was formed. While the Telangana government introduced a number of schemes for the welfare of the public, the union government has done nothing instead of imposing a burden on the public by increasing the prices of essential commodities.

Moreover, no BJP-ruled State in the country was implementing the schemes that were being implemented in Telangana, he said.

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