Telangana: Dalit Bandhu takes off in Huzurabad
Ministers Gangula Kamalakar and Koppula Eashwar and District Collector RV Karnan handed over a tractor each to two families who opted for this business, an auto trolley to another and a transport vehicle
Karimnagar: Thursday was a landmark day in the implementation process of the ambitious Telangana Dalit Bandhu scheme with four beneficiary families getting down to business, literally, and the State government completing the financial exercise of making the promised Rs 2,000 crore available with the district administration to take the programme forward with the release of the last tranche of Rs 500 crore.
The grounding of Dalit Bandhu, replete with the required funds, comes within 10 days of the formal launch of the scheme by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao at Shalapalli on the outskirts of Huzurabad on August 16, when he handed over cheques to 15 beneficiaries. To be implemented in the Huzurabad Assembly constituency as a pilot project, the scheme is aimed at empowering Dalits through a Rs 10 lakh no-strings-attached grant for each of the 21,000 Dalit families in the constituency to help them set up businesses.
Four of the 15 Dalit families who received the cheques decided to utilise the Rs 10 lakh given to them to buy tractors, auto-trolley and car for transportation purposes. Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar, Social Welfare Minister Koppula Eashwar and District Collector RV Karnan handed over a tractor each to two families who opted for this business, an auto trolley to another and a transport vehicle to a fourth family at the District Collectorate here, marking the grounding of the scheme.
G Suguna and Mogili, a Dalit couple who chose to go in for an auto-trolley, were handed over the vehicle on Thursday while a car was given to Rachapalli Shankar. The tractors were handed over to couples Dasarapu Swaroopa-Rajaiah and Elukapalli Komaramma-Kanakaiah.
Speaking on the occasion, Suguna expressed joy over receiving the auto trolley. “Sanction of Rs 10 lakh and getting a vehicle with that money is not a small thing for us. We would not have earned this amount in our lifetime. This was made possible only because of the Chief Minister,” she said, thanking Chandrashekhar Rao.
Kamalakar promised Suguna that she would be given a contract by the Civil Supplies Department to transport rice and other material to fair price shop dealers.
Shankar, who used to work as a taxi driver, opted for a car. “I never dreamt that I will one day own a vehicle. My long standing dream has come true with the launch of Dalit Bandhu scheme by the Chief Minister,” he said.
Kamalakar said Chandrashekhar Rao launched a great scheme that would fulfil the aspirations of BR Ambedkar. “Dalits were kept away from development, and no government in 75 years of independence thought of their welfare,” he said.
Dalits, who worked as taxi drivers and coollies in dairies and other units, would now become owners of vehicles and can establish their own businesses with the support of Dalit Bandhu, the Minister said, adding that it was heartening to see the happiness writ large on the faces of the beneficiaries who started their businesses on Thursday.
Stating that confidence among other communities would also go up with the launch of Dalit Bandhu, Eashwar said all the 21,000 Dalit families in the constituency would be given Rs 10 lakh.
Telangana releases Rs 500 cr more, meets Rs 2,000 cr target
The Telangana State Schedule Caste Corporation released another Rs 500 crore on Thursday, as per the instructions of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, to be deposited in the account of Karimnagar District Collector for the implementation of Telangana Dalit Bandhu as a pilot project in Huzurabad.
The Rs 2,000-crore target for the implementation of the scheme in the constituency as announced by the Chief Minister has been achieved with the latest release of Rs 500 crore. The State government released the Rs 2,000 crore in five instalments between August 9 and August 26.
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