Dalit Bandhu To Benefit 17 Lakhs SC Families: KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao today launched the state government's newest welfare program, the Dalit Bandhu scheme, at a public meeting in Huzurabad.

On the occasion, he lashed out at the leaders of the Opposition for voicing their misgivings about the scheme and asserted that its implementation would help about 17 lakh SC families.

The CM also censured the TRS regime's detractors for "using protests to create panic" and for "spreading lies" about the scheme, claiming that they had all supported the idea at meetings on the same.

After handing over cheques to 15 beneficiaries at the program, he opined, "A state cannot be said to be developed until Dalit families are brought into the mainstream and can access the benefits of development. Let the Dalits too become businessmen and entrepreneurs and contribute to the state's economic development as well as to the development of their community. We want to encourage this sort of inclusive growth in Telangana."

Announcing that Secretary (SC Development) Rahul Bojja would soon be employed at the CMO, KCR revealed that Bojja, alongside a group of "dedicated government officials" would monitor the Dalit Bandhu program's implementation to ensure that every Dalit household benefitted from the scheme.

"I vow to work to empower the SCs of Telangana so that they can be emancipated from years of oppression and marginalisation. In the last seven decades, the preceding governments of undivided Andhra Pradesh had neglected the community. That is why our government has taken this initiative to provide aid of Rs 10 lakh to each Dalit family in order to empower them. SC leaders, writers, students and elected representatives will also be involved in the program to further streamline the implementation process," he added.

The CM then urged the Dalit intellectuals, the educated, the youth and the leaders of the state to "unite for the successful implementation of the scheme".

"The Dalit community must unite and work to use the funds that will be given to them to set up their own enterprises. I hope the Dalit Bandhu scheme will usher in a new era of rapid development for the community. It is our social responsibility to introduce schemes like this one that will have a meaningful impact on strengthening the STs of the state. While some vested interests are creating confusion and spreading falsehoods about the initiative only to stall Dalit development, we will ensure that it succeeds. I would also like to clarify that although the scheme was to be launched earlier, it was delayed due to the pandemic. The Opposition has used this delay to raise suspicions about the timing of the launch but I assure you all such remarks are unfounded," he added.

Talking about the significance of the scheme, KCR claimed that it was a historical one that would set an example for the rest of the nation.

The program came to an end amidst raucous applause as cheers of "Jai Bheem" and "Jai Telangana" filled the air.

Ministers T Harish Rao, K T Rama Rao, Gangula Kamalakar, Koppula Eshwar, V Srinivas Goud, T Srinivas Yadav, and Satyavathi Rathod, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, and Secretary (SC Welfare) Rahul Bojja were among those who attended the meeting.