Telangana Dalitha Bandhu Scheme 2024 Eligibility, Details: Telangana government has allocated Rs. 17,700 crore for dalit empowerment under Dalit Bandhu Scheme for FY 2022-23. Telangana Dalita Bandhu scheme is a flagship scheme of Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) led state government. The government is aiming to benefit around 2 lakh Dalit beneficiaries with this allocation, by next year i.e FY 2023. In this article, we will tell you about the complete details of Dalitha Bandhu Scheme.
Dalit Bandhu Scheme in Telangana Budget 2022-23
Telangana Budget 2022-23 saw the government allocating Rs. 17,700 crore for its flagship TS Dalit Bandhu scheme. The budget was presented by the state Finance minister Harish Rao on 7 March 2022 with a total of Rs 2.56 lakh crore expenditure for the current financial year. There is a substantial allocation for the Dalit Bandhu scheme in budget which will see Rs. 10 lakh cash transfer scheme for entrepreneurs from SC communities. Last year, Rs. 21,306 crore was allocated for SC’s Development Fund but this year, the Dalit Bandhu scheme which was announced in August 2021, also seems to have also had a substantial allocation, adding to the growing list of welfare programmes by the TRS government.
No Bank Linkage / Collateral Security in Dalitha Bandhu Scheme
Finance Minister said the Dalitha Bandhu Scheme aims for empowerment of Dalits and will take them out of poverty. Dalit Bandhu scheme will provide employment, self-respect and development as it is an effective policy. Earlier economic development schemes could not yield much results owing to the rules linking the schemes with bank loans and collateral security. There is no bank linkage and no collateral security in Dalita Bandhu Yojana. The beneficiary has complete freedom to select any business/activity, he/ she is good at. The complete financial assistance is in the shape of grants which need not be paid back.
Dalita Rakshana Nidhi to Assist DBS beneficiaries
A Dalita Rakshana Nidhi (Protection Fund) has also been established to assist the Dalit Bandhu Scheme (DBS) beneficiaries in case of unfortunate events, in order to avoid financial suffering. The Dalitha Bandhu scheme will be implemented in Huzurabad Assembly segment and four more mandals – Chintakani, Tirumalagiri, Nizamsagar and Charagonda along with 118 assembly constituencies. According to the Finance Minister, as many as 11,800 beneficiaries from 118 assembly constituencies (100 from each) will be able to avail the Dalit Bandhu scheme benefits in the present phase.
By the end of March this year, the government is expecting to pay cash through Direct Benefit Transfer to roughly 40,000 families under the scheme at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore. The government hopes to benefit two lakh beneficiaries by next year.
Dalit Bandhu Implementation in 118 Assembly Constituencies
The Telangana Rashtra Samithi government has decided to implement Dalit Bandhu scheme in the remaining 118 assembly constituencies in the state before March 2022. In each constituency, 100 beneficiaries will be extended Dalit Bandhu by taking a family as a unit. The scheme has already been launched in Huzurabad assembly constituency in August 2021.
The scheme grounding in all the assembly constituencies should be completed before March. The district collectors have to shortlist the beneficiaries in consultation with local MLA. Every beneficiary will get 10 lakh without bank linkage and units will be sanctioned based on beneficiaries choice. Under the scheme, 10 lakh would be given to each beneficiary to utilize the amount for identified programmes.
Dalitha Bandhu Scheme Pilot Project
Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has already launched Dalit Bandhu in Huzurabad and Vasalamarri village in Yadadri-Bhongiri district in August 2021. Four mandals each in four SC-reserved assembly constituencies were also included in the scheme.
Beneficiaries in TS Dalitha Bandhu Scheme Pilot Phase
At first, the enumeration about the status and situation of Dalit families in the Huzurabad Constituency was undertaken. Later based on the guidelines and modalities of the scheme, beneficiaries were selected. Till 23 January 2022, around 18,000 beneficiaries have been identified in Huzurabad constituency and Vasalamarri village. However, 947 beneficiaries in Huzurabad and 57 in Vasalamarri have availed the scheme (grounded) after completing all the procedures.
In the pilot phase, the following number of beneficiary dalit families were proposed to be included in Huzurabad constituency:-
- Huzurabad Mandal – 5323 Dalit families
- Kamalapur Mandal – 4346 families
- Veenavanka Mandal – 3678 families
- Jammikunta Mandal – 4996 Dalit families
- Illanthakunta Mandal – 2586 families
- Total – 20, 929 families under Huzurabad Assembly segment
All these assembly segments have been scrutinized for selection of the beneficiaries under Dalit Bandhu Scheme. For the eligible Dalit families, according to the guidelines, Dalita Bandhu Scheme would be implemented under saturation mode.
Fund Allocation for Telangana Dalita Bandhu Scheme
Chief Minister KCR said all over the state the Dalita Bandhu Scheme will be implemented as decided earlier with Rs. 17,700 Crore. But in the Huzurabad Constituency, which was selected to implement the pilot project, the entire Assembly segment will have Dalita Bandhu Scheme being implemented as per the guidelines, for the eligible families.
CM mentioned that “Based on the experiences at the ground level in the Pilot Assembly segment, it is now easy for the officials to review and implement Dalita Bandhu Scheme all over the State. In the pilot project implementation along with the Collectors, selected officers took part. A workshop was even conducted for them.”
Issues in Telangana Dalit Bandhu Scheme
CM KCR mentioned that Telangana Dalit Bandhu Scheme would have three issues.
- First one is monitoring the implementation of the scheme
- Second is to evaluate the results
- Third one is to create a safety fund for the beneficiaries with the government’s participation and the beneficiaries, the CM suggested to the officials.
Assistance Amount in Telangana Dalitha Bandhu Scheme
Along with Rs 10 Lakh cash given under the Telangana Dalita Scheme, beneficiary along with the government’s participation will create safety fund. In case, anything happens suddenly to the beneficiary help is given from the fund. The Dalit family who have attained a higher level through Dalita Bandhu scheme, in case they faced any emergency, the Safety Fund helps them not to fall from the situation. It provides a safety shield.
Objective of Telangana Dalita Bandhu Scheme
The major objective of Dalita Bandhu scheme is to take Dalit families from their present situation to higher levels. In order implement the Dalits Bandhu Scheme effectively at the ground level; there is a need to have official machinery, which works putting its heart and soul with commitment and dedication. The officials should not act like officials but as facilitators, coordinators. CM KCR has instructed the senior officials to identify such committed and dedicated officers.
CM made it clear that based on caste, gender, and economic status and by other names if talented persons are discriminated and kept away from the production, it will be a loss to individual, family, socially but also a great loss to the country. Making efforts to empower Dalits is nothing but making a talented community, which was subjected to discrimination, and making it as a partner in production.
Cabinet Meeting on Telangana Dalitha Bandhu Scheme
On 25 July 2021, under the Chairmanship of CM Shri KCR, a high-level meeting took place on the Implementation of Dalit empowerment, selection of the pilot project, and the duties of the official’s machinery.
Opposition on Dalit Bandhu Scheme
“Dalit Bandhu” which was launched last year in Huzurabad of Karimnagar ahead of the bye -elections, has a become point of controversy with the Opposition alleging the scheme was initiated to lure voters, as the scheme allows every SC family to present a viable income generating scheme to get the money. Opposition parties have alleged that the beneficiaries are being selected in a non-transparent way. With assembly elections over an year away, KCR government seems to be reaching out to Dalits who comprise around 18% in the state population with Dalit Bandhu scheme.
The scheme was started in Vasalamarri village in Turkapally mandal in August 2021, and was later launched in Huzurabad assembly constituency. At the time of the launch, 21,000 dalit families in Huzurabad constituency were expected to benefit from this programme. Around 17 lakh Dalit families are expected to make use of this scheme at a cost of Rs 1.7 lakh crore, which will be implemented in a phased manner.
Effective Implementation of Telangana Dalita Bandhu Scheme
There is a need to implement Telangana Dalita Bandhu scheme effectively at the field level. The official machinery, which will implement the scheme, should be selected based on how they understand the idea and implement it but not in a routine manner. The officers selected should implement it putting their heart and soul into it. No government can implement the Telangana Dalit Bandhu Scheme without complete data and statistics. Based on the Comprehensive Family survey details, govt. will go ahead with the implementation of the TS Dalitha Bandhu scheme.
CM mentioned “the way how we involve ourselves while eating a delicious meal and how we focus when we do a job of our interest, officers should also implement the scheme with the same love, commitment and dedication.”
Need for TS Dalitha Bandhu Scheme
CM mentioned that “Dalits have lost faith in their development due to the faulty policies implemented by the past rulers. Their mistrust should be removed. There is a responsibility on us to make the Dalits believe that the government is thinking about them and their development. We have to repose faith in them. There is a need to give proper guidance and implement and monitor the Dalita Bandhu scheme.”
CM KCR made it clear that the government would not tolerant if any laxity is shown while implementing the TS Dalitha Bandhu Scheme. There is economic discrimination among other castes in the country, but Dalits have additional sociological discrimination for decades. Telangana government is committed to remove economic and sociological discrimination of Dalits and make them develop in all the sectors. Like the Rythu Bandhu scheme for farmers, Dalita Bandhu Scheme would empower the Dalits.
Creation of Dalit’s Families Profile in Telangana
Recent Dalit public representatives meeting suggested that financial assistance should be directly given to the Dalit families so that they can select their work and develop. Like the Rythu Bandhu Scheme, beneficiaries of the Dalita Bandhu Scheme would get the assistance directly into their bank accounts. CM instructed that the Dalit family’s profiles should be prepared and make their lives better. He said the problems of Dalits will not be uniform and they differ from rural, semi urban to urban areas. The classification should be done on these categories and the Dalita Bandhu Scheme should be implemented.
CM mentioned that “In the Indian Society, individual character is great. But due to several discrimination practices, combined unity is not up to the mark. This is regrettable. This is the reason why the Telangana government came out with the Dalita Bandhu scheme and will keep the required funds for it.”
Announcement of Telangana Dalitha Bandhu Scheme
Telangana CM Dalit Empowerment Scheme has been announced by the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. CM KCR has roll out Rs. 17,700 crore Mukhyamantri Dalit Sashaktikaran Yojana in the budget. This scheme is an exclusive initiative for the upliftment of Dalits in the state.
Date of Telangana Dalita Bandhu Scheme Announcement
While addressing a huge rally at Halia town in Nalgonda district, KCR announced Dalit Bandhu Scheme or CM Dalit Empowerment Scheme on 10 February 2021. CM KCR mentioned that he would be directly monitoring implementation of Chief Minister’s Dalit Empowerment Scheme. In this scheme, various projects would be initiated for the welfare of Dalits. Initially, the state govt. shall allocate Rs. 17,700 crore for the Mukhyamantri Dalit Sashaktikaran Yojana in the budget. In the subsequent years, allocation would be increased manifold.
An Overview of CM Dalit Empowerment Scheme
| Name of Scheme | Dalit Bandhu Scheme or Dalitha Bandhu Scheme |
| State | Telangana |
| Announced by | Chief Minister KCR |
| Date of Announcement | 10 February 2021 |
| Cabinet Approval | 25 July 2021 |
| Pilot Project Implementation Start Date | August 2021 |
| Roll out across entire TS state | March 2022 |
| Major Beneficiaries | Dalits |
| Budgetary Allocation | Rs. 17,700 crore |
| Included in Telangana Budget | Yes |
KCR even mentioned that even though Telangana govt. had been implementing a sub-plan for Scheduled Castes (SC) and taking up certain schemes, CM was not totally satisfied with it. That is why govt. comes out with CM Dalit Empowerment Scheme.
Source / Reference Link: https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/telangana-budget-2022-kcr-s-flagship-scheme-dalit-bandhu-gets-rs-17700-crore-161667