Telangana CM KCR is sending conflicting signals when it comes to the implementation of the Dalit Bandhu scheme. Though he has been working on the scheme and has been discussing with various stakeholders at different levels, he has been making statements that are at variance with one another. As a result, despite the launch of the programme from Vasalamarri and then from Huzurabad, doubts continue to persist.
Not just that. The CM, chief secretary Somesh Kumar and minister Harish Rao gave different explanations about the implementation of the scheme, selection of the beneficiaries and the kinds of benefits that accrue.
In fact, on June 27, KCR said that 100 beneficiaries would be selected from each of the 119 constituencies in the state. Thus, the total number of beneficiaries in the first phase would be 11900, he said.
On July 18, during a review on the scheme, KCR said that Dalit Bandhu would be implemented as per the samagra kutumba survey conducted in 2014. He said each selected beneficiary would get full benefit. On July 18, while inaugurating the scheme at Vasalamarri, he said every Dalit family in the village would get the benefit of Dalit Bandhu. On August 15, speaking at the Golconda fort, he said the scheme would be fully implemented in Huzurabad and partially in other areas. On another occasion, KCR has said that each of the 20,969 Dalit families in Huzurabad will get the benefit. The very next day, the government has clarified that the scheme would be implemented in Huzurabad only and that there would be no partial implementation in other constituencies. These conflicting statements are adding to the confusion.
But so far, the government has released only Rs 500 crore for the implementation of the scheme. As of now, the scheme needs an additional Rs 1600 crore for the first phase. The government has not clearly specified how it would allocate these funds. As a result, there are several question marks hanging over the Dalit Bandhu scheme.
