Dalit Bandhu Scheme

March 9, 2022

Dalit Bandhu is the Telangana government’s flagship programme. It is a welfare scheme for empowering Dalit families of the state and enabling entrepreneurship among them through a Rs 10 lakh direct benefit transfer per family.

Overview:

  • The Telangana government in its state budget allocated Rs 17,700 crore for the Dalit Bandhu scheme for the year 2022-23.
  • This scheme was announced by the state government in 2021.
  • In August 2021 this scheme was first launched in Vasalamarri village in Turkapally mandal, and later it was launched in the Huzurabad assembly constituency.

About the scheme

It is envisioned as a social welfare scheme aimed at assisting Dalit families. The initiative will encourage Dalit entrepreneurship in the state by providing a direct benefit transfer of Rs 10 lakh per family to all those who do not have a bank guarantee in order to establish a business. The government’s financial assistance through this scheme is free and it is not a loan of any type, hence, there’s no need for repayment. There will be no middlemen in this transaction. Beneficiaries who are eligible will receive the amount in their bank accounts.

About Dalita Rakshana Nidhi

A Dalita Rakshana Nidhi (Protection Fund) has been established to aid Dalit Bandhu beneficiaries in the event of unforeseen circumstances, thereby avoiding financial suffering.

Where will the scheme be implemented?

This scheme will be implemented in Huzurabad Assembly segment as well as four more mandals which are Tirumalagiri, Chintakani, Charagonda, and Nizamsagar along with 118 assembly constituencies. The scheme will be available to 11,800 beneficiaries, with 100 people from each of the 118 assembly constituencies.

The government expects to transfer cash to around 40,000 families under the scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer by the end of March this year, at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore. By next year, the government wants to provide benefits to two lakh beneficiaries.

Controversy regarding the scheme

This scheme has sparked controversy, with the opposition alleging that the scheme was launched to lure Dalit voters as it allows every Dalit family to produce a viable income-generating strategy in order to get the funds. The opposition parties are also alleging that the beneficiaries are being selected in a non-transparent manner.

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