How the many problems with Dalit Bandhu scheme may have boomeranged on the BRS

The scheme was meant to provide a one-time payment of ?10 lakh to eligible families from the Scheduled Caste communities.

By Deepika Pasham

Gajwel, the constituency Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao represented in the outgoing Assembly, saw an uprising of Dalits in August.

The protesters burnt effigies of the sarpanch, Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency (MTPC) member, and the chief minister himself. They were protesting against the demanded bribe of ?1 lakh each from nine beneficiaries of the BRS government’s Dalit Bandhu scheme.

The government’s prestigious Dalit Bandhu scheme was launched in August 2021, ahead of the Huzurabad bypoll. The initiative was meant to provide a one-time payment of ?10 lakh to eligible families from the Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, as a capital to start any business of their choice.

The much-trumpeted scheme soon ran into rough weather with allegations of rampant corruption and nepotism arising from across the state.

While on the campaign trail, South First came across several voters miffed over the handling of the Dalit Bandhu scheme.

Prestigious scheme

According to Finance Minister T Harish Rao, the first phase of the Dalit Bandhu scheme was meant to cover 100 beneficiaries in Huzurabad, which raised to over 11,000 families in all constituencies, and the government-sanctioned ?1,000 crore towards this.

The plan was to provide the grant to more than 20 lakh families over the next few years.

The beneficiaries are selected based on a set of criteria such as income, educational qualification, and entrepreneurial skills. A team that conducted a survey presented the short-listed names of beneficiaries to the additional collector, who forwarded it to the chief secretary.

However, not all have received the amount. Several people South First spoke to said they received no response from officials. Some others were promised that the grant would be distributed after the election.

In Ranga Reddy’s Maheswaram Navya, a post-graduate was hurrying to attend a BJP campaign meeting. “We have no information about what is happening. They have conducted a survey. The process should be transparent. I am educated and planning a small business with the amount. I have not received it yet,” she said.

S Anil Kumar of Madhira village had a similar tale. “One of our family members wanted to buy a taxi, but he has not received the Dalit Bandhu. We have submitted all the required documents to the team that met us. When we enquired about it recently, we were told that the amount will be released after the election,” he said.

The scheme became a talking point during the run-up to the elections for the wrong reasons, much to the chagrin of the BRS. A significant section of the population was disappointed over the non-disbursal of the grant, as was only to be expected.

Allegations of nepotism

Farmer Bichiayya was headed to the venue in Achampet SC reserved constituency where Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao was to address a rally. “Are you leaving? Where are the papers? Has anything been done?” he shouted at his friend.

South First caught up with Bichiayya, who was angry with the government for inaugurating statues in Hyderabad with the money that could be used for his community’s benefit.

“Half of the Achampet population comprises Dalits and most of the families have not received the Dalit Bandhu funds. The farmers are angry that statutes are being inaugurated in Hyderabad instead of the funds being used to waive off loans,” he said.

To many like Bichiayya, Dalit Bandhu remains elusive. Bichiayya’s son drives a taxi in Hyderabad since the family could not earn much from their farmland. “We decided to give Congress a chance this time,” he added.

There is also the widespread belief that people close to the BRS are benefiting from the scheme. “Vikarabad is an SC reserved constituency and the people here are waiting for the Dalit Bandhu. The information we have is that MLAs are distributing it to their people,” K Ramesh, a voter in Vikarabad, told South First.

Incidentally, the MLAs were asked to select 100 beneficiaries from their respective constituencies in 2021-22. The government later authorised them to select 1,500 beneficiaries from their segments.

The wait continues

In Andole, P Bhumaiah was with friends T Balaiah (65) and T Sailu (60) in the courtyard of one of the houses in Ambedkar Nagar Colony. The 66-year-old man wanted to open a grocery shop for his son when he heard about the Dalit Bandhu scheme.

However, his dream has not materialised even after two years. “Not even a single person in our village has received the benefits of the scheme,” a disappointed Bhumaiah alleged.

The village has more than 150 families and 500 people. “People in our village applied in September. Whenever we visit the Mandal Revenue Office (MRO), they ask us to wait patiently. Nobody knows when this wait will end,” Balaiah quipped, Both Bhumaiah and Sailu nodded.

In Rakenpally village located in the Duggondi Mandal of Narsampet constituency, only 12 have received funds through the Dalit Bandhu scheme. However, for Tirupathi, a 48-year-old Dalit from the same village, the assistance took a different form. “KCR sir provided a loan to buy buffaloes,” he told South First.

In Narsampet, around 658 people secured loans of ?4 lakh each for purchasing buffaloes. This initiative was part of a dairy scheme that offers four buffaloes to each Dalit family. While 60 percent of the unit cost is subsidised by the government, Vijaya Dairy extended the remaining 40 percent as a loan.

“I received ?4 lakhs for the buffaloes, and recently, I paid off the ?1 lakh loan as well,” Tirupathi smiled. Excited about the schemes, Tirupathi expressed hope of receiving the Dalit Bandhu after the elections. He is happy over the Kalyana Lakshmi, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bheema, Crop Compensation, and other schemes.

The Dalit Bandhu seemed to have influenced the voters in Telangana as the state went to polling booths on Thursday, 30 November. How far it has influenced — along with other factors — would be known on Sunday, 3 December.

Courtesy : TSF

Note: This news piece was originally published in thesouthfirst.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Right