Telangana Chief Minister KCR recently announced that his government is ready to spend Rs Rs 1 lakh crore for Dalit Bandhu, touted as India’s biggest direct benefit transfer scheme, to uplift Dalits across the state.
KCR has designed the scheme to bring about a qualitative change in the lives of Dalits. As part of this, Rs 500 crore has been released for the scheme. Dalit Bandhu will first be implemented in Huzurabad Assembly Constituency on a pilot basis, which is due for bye-elections. The decision of KCR has drawn widespread criticism from the Opposition parties in the state, which senses a poll stunt.
However, the Telangana government, on Monday, issued orders releasing Rs 500 crore. In the wake of unforeseen developments, the scheme was initiated from Vasalamarri, a village adopted by KCR.
The CM has announced that the Dalit Bandhu scheme will be extended to 76 Dalit families in the village and Rs 7.6 crore will be credited to their accounts.
Beneficiaries will be selected from 5,323 Dalit families in Huzurabad Mandal, 4,346 families in Kamalapur Mandal, 3,678 families in Veenavanka Mandal, 4,996 families in Jammikunta Mandal and 2,586 families in Illandakunta Mandal out of a total of 20,929 Dalit families in the Huzurabad constituency.
