Vasalamarri abuzz with Dalit Bandhu cheer
'Jai Ho KCR' slogans rent the air as govt releases Rs 7.60 cr to Dalit Bandhu funds
Hyderabad: A festive atmosphere prevailed in Vasalamarri village of Yadadri-Bhongir district on Thursday as the State government released Rs 7.60 crore to the District Collector for implementation of the historic Telangana Dalit Bandhu scheme, which will benefit 76 Dalit households in the village.
The amount was transferred to District Collector Pamela Satpathy’s account, marking the launch of the scheme from Vasalamarri adopted by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. He had announced the launch of the scheme during his interaction with the Dalit families as part of his visit to the village on Wednesday.
As the news that the 76 families would receive financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh each as a single instalment spread fast, the Dalitwada came alive with the villagers celebrating the moment. From performing ‘palabhishekam’ to the portrait of the Chief Minister to sprinkling colours and congratulating each other, all this while celebrating the Bonalu festival, the villagers enjoyed every moment of the day after the government released the amount.
Slogans of ‘Jai Ho KCR’ rent the air, with most villagers even skipping the daily agricultural activity to celebrate the occasion. Bonalu, which is usually celebrated in the village in the second week of auspicious ‘Shravanamasam’ this month, was celebrated much ahead on Thursday itself, said Sarpanch P Anjaneeyulu.
It was an unforgettable day for 57-year-old Susheela from the village. “We are celebrating 10 festivals at a time on Thursday as our KCR sir is giving us Rs 10 lakh,” she said, adding her two sons could now set up a poultry farm and lead a happy life instead of working in a private company in Turkapally for just Rs 8,000 a month.
“My sons have been facing severe financial problems because they are not being paid well. But Dalit Bandhu will change their lives,” she said.
For 26-year-old Renuka, a widow, the financial assistance will come as a major relief as she can now run her own business and look after her son and daughter. After the death of her husband Bikshapathi, a former member of Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC), she was working as a labourer for a daily wage of Rs 300.
After the Chief Minister’s announcement that the scheme would be rolled out from Vasalamarri, Renuka was delighted, exuding confidence that their financial status would witness a major change as she was planning to set up a business of her own with Rs 10 lakh.
“It’s really a great boost for us. We have been struggling since the death of my husband,” Renuka said, adding she would also ready her one acre of agricultural land for cultivation.
Dalit Bandhu beneficiaries to be imparted training
Yadadri-Bhongir Collector Pamela Satpathy’s on Thursday said more skill-oriented training sessions would be conducted for 76 Dalit families which have been identified for Telangana Dalit Bandhu scheme in Vasalamarri village in the district. Area of interest of each beneficiary would be sought and later a comprehensive training session would be organised for them.
“As the scheme is aimed at changing the financial status of Dalits, we want to ensure that it is implemented in a transparent manner for the benefit of every beneficiary,” she said. Satpathy, who took part in a series of meetings since morning on Thursday to discuss modalities to be adopted, said the administration would take utmost care to help the beneficiaries of the scheme.
More interactive sessions would also be conducted for the beneficiaries before starting skill-oriented training sessions. Some beneficiaries were evincing interest to set up either poultry or dairy farms while others, who are already working as lorry or car drivers, want to buy new vehicles. However, the administration is advising the beneficiaries to think in larger perceptive, which will change their lives. Efforts are also on to prepare a layout for developing the village into a model township.
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