The Telangana Governmnet decided to extend the Dalit Bandhu scheme to more people in a phased manner. In the first phase of Dalit Bandhu programme, 100 SC families got Dalit Bandhu benefits in each constituency. Now the State cabinet decided to extend the scheme to an additional 500 beneficiaries in each of the 118 Assembly constituencies. Chief minister Mr K Chandrasekhar Rao has directed the chief secretary Mr K Somesh Kumar and other officials to expedite the process and identify the beneficiaries forthwith.
All in all, the Telangana governmnet aims to extend Dalit Bandhu scheme to 1,500 families in each constituency. With this, a total of 1,77,000 people would get Dalit Bandhu benefit in 118 Assembly constituencies.
The scheme envisages providing Rs 10 lakh non-refundable and without any subsidy to each dalit family. It was aimed at helping them set up their own enterprise to earn a recurring income. The scheme was successfully implemented in Huzuarabad Assembly constituency where scores of dalits turned into entrepreneurs making a decent living. The group units and individual units registered a 95 percent of success rate.
Many dalit became owners of tractors, harvesters and goods transport vehicles earning daily income while those who opened shops such as grocery stores, computer embroidery units, and dairy units are also making a better living.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao