Politicians from all parties, including those from other states, have praised Telangana’s Dalit Bandhu, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.
Many are putting pressure on their governments to implement such programs. A Tamil Nadu delegation led by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) MLAs recently visited the state to study welfare and development programs, particularly Dalit Bandhu. The delegation travelled to Karimnagar and Huzurabad, where they met with Dalit Bandhu beneficiaries.
No other state was implementing such a program, and Kattumarnarkoil MLA Sinthanai Selvan praised the Telangana government for doing so on a large scale.
In 2021, CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka praised the Dalit Bandhu scheme, claiming that no other state in the country was undertaking such an initiative for the welfare of Dalits.
He thanked the Chief Minister for choosing Chintakani mandal in his constituency for the Dalit Bandhu pilot project, which cuts across political ideologies.
The Chief Minister conceived and designed the scheme to ensure that Dalits can develop economically through their own efforts and self-employment.
Each Dalit family will receive Rs 10 lakh in financial assistance from the state government. To date, the scheme has grounded 38,511 units, 16,000 of which were in Huzurabad alone.
The state government spent Rs 3,800 crore on Dalit Bandhu, and the scheme will have been in place for two years in August 2023. An amount of Rs 17,700 crore is proposed for the Dalit Bandhu scheme.
Special Development Fund
The State government passed the SC, ST Special Development Fund Act to ensure the development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The funds are distributed proportionally to the SC/ST population.
More importantly, there is statutory safeguards in place to ensure that funds designated for the welfare of SCs and STs are not diverted to other schemes.
Furthermore, if funds are not fully utilised in a financial year, the Act requires that these unspent funds be carried forward to the following year. A Special Development Fund for Scheduled Castes of Rs 36,750 crore was proposed in the Budget.
A Dalit household receives free power of up to 101 units for domestic use. A total of Rs 251 crore has been spent on this scheme.
The government is providing Dalit students with Rs 20 lakh Ambedkar Overseas Scholarships to enable them to pursue higher education abroad. Scholarships have been awarded to 953 students to date.
Aasara pensioners up 44.12 lakh
The welfare of the people is given top priority by the state government. The Telangana government increased Aasara pensions from Rs 200 to Rs 2016 after the state was formed.
The monthly pension for physically challenged people has been raised to Rs 3,016. Aasara pension of Rs 2,016 per month is being extended to Beedi workers, single women, filaria and dialysis patients.
The number of pensioners in 2014 was 29,21,828. The expenditure incurred towards pension per annum was Rs 861 crore.
Following the formation of Telangana, the number of Aasara pension holders increased to 44.12 lakh, with the government incurring an annual expenditure of Rs 11,628 crore. Aasara pensions are now available to people aged 57 and up.
As a result, Aasara pensions were granted to 8,96,592 people last year. Aasara Pensions received a budget allocation of Rs 12,000 crore.
Free power for Girijan families
The state has 3,146 Girijan Gram Panchayat Sarpanches. This came after 2,471 Girijan thandas and gudems with a population of more than 500 were upgraded into Gram Panchayats.
For every newly-established Girijan Gram Panchayat, an amount of Rs 20 lakh has been sanctioned for the construction of Panchayat Bhavan.
The government has spent Rs 221 crore to extend three-phase power supply to 3,467 Girijan habitations. One lakh Girijan families are receiving free electricity worth up to 101 units per month.
The government has allocated Rs 1,385 crore to lay roads covering 2,500 kilometres in order to improve the road network and provide transportation facilities to 1,287 thandas and gudems.
To instill self-respect in Adivasis and Banjaras, the State government allocated land in premium areas of the city and built Adivasi and Banjara Bhavans.
These Bhavans were named after Komaram Bheem and Sevalal Maharaj. The Special Development Fund for Scheduled Tribes was allocated Rs 15,233 crore in the Budget.
Reviving traditional occupations
The Telangana government is focusing on the development of the state’s weaker sections, who rely primarily on traditional occupations for a living.
The contribution of the animal husbandry sector to the state’s GSDP increased from 6.3% in 2014-15 to 9% in 2021-22. In 2021-22, the Animal Husbandry sector is expected to be worth Rs 93,599 crore.
The Telangana government has begun distributing sheep on a large scale in order to assist the Golla Kuruma communities who are involved in sheep rearing.
The government is proceeding with a target of distributing 7.3 lakh sheep with an outlay of Rs 11,000 crore.
Govt stands by handloom weavers
Before the formation of Telangana, handloom weavers had to work very hard to make a living. Lack of government support, no marketing facilities, and poor product sales only exacerbated their problems.
The Telangana government is procuring sarees from the handloom and power-loom sectors for distribution during the Bathukamma festival. This contributed to the weavers having enough work 365 days a year.
Much-needed assistance
- After the digital survey, 21,585 handloom workers and 43,104 power-loom workers were identified and they were provided them with geo-tagging numbers.
- Incentives and benefits are being credited directly into the bank accounts.
- Under Chenetha Mithra Scheme, 50 per cent subsidy is extended for the purchase of yarn and chemicals. To date, Rs 33.17 crore subsidy has been disbursed to 20,501 handloom workers
- Apart from the Aasara pension, handloom workers are provided with Rs 5 lakh insurance
- Outstanding loans up to Rs 1 lakh have been waived and till date, loans amounting to Rs 29 crore have been waived
- Under ‘Pavala Vaddi Scheme’, loans worth Rs 120 crore have been extended to 523 workers and societies
- Kakatiya Mega Textile Park and Sircilla Apparel Park are being established
- Special incentives being extended under the ‘Nethannaku Cheyutha’ Savings Scheme
Quota for Gowda community
Following the formation of Telangana, the government waived toddy tree tax arrears while also facilitating the formation of new societies for the welfare of toddy tappers.
The government has invested Rs 25 crore in a project to turn Neera into a soft drink. Along with Neera production, Neera processing units and Neera cafes are nearing completion.
In the event of an accidental death of a toddy tapper, their families will be compensated with Rs 5 lakh. The Telangana government provided a 15% reservation to the Gowda community in the allocation of liquor shops, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.
More Atma Gourava Bhavans for BCs
The state government is building Atma Gowrava Bhavans for 41 categories of BCs. To that end, 87 acres of premium land in Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, as well as Rs 95.25 crore for construction, have been allocated.
A few Bhavans will be dedicated soon. In the Budget, Rs 6,229 crore is proposed for the welfare of BCs.
Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak
The State government has provided Rs 10,416 crore since the inception of the Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak scheme to perform marriages for 12 lakh girls.
Benefits under the scheme are available to girls over the age of 18, regardless of religion or caste. The scheme has also helped the state control child marriages. For Kalyana Lakshmi/ Shaadi Mubarak scheme Rs 3,210 crore is earmarked in the Budget.
Balamrutham Plus
After a successful pilot project of distributing highly nutritious food Balamrutham Plus to children under the age of five from poor families in Gadwal and Asifabad districts, the scheme was expanded to all districts in August last. Telangana Foods even supplies Balamrutham to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
Honorarium to Anganwadi Teachers and Asha Workers
Telangana government pays Anganwadi teachers Rs 13,650 per month, which is among the highest in the country. They are paid Rs 7,000 in Uttar Pradesh, Rs 7,500 in Rajasthan, and Rs 8,325 in Maharashtra.
In 2014, the honorarium for Asha Workers was raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 9,750 per month. Asha Workers get Rs 3,000, in Gujarat, it is Rs 6,700, and in Karnataka and Haryana, it is Rs 4,000.
Welfare of Journalists
The government has allocated Rs.100 crore as a Corpus Fund for the benefit of journalists. A building for the Media Academy is being built for Rs 15 crore. The construction work is nearing completion.
Welfare of Brahmins
The state government spent Rs 51 crore on Brahmin welfare through the Brahmin Samkshema Parishad. Each student will receive a Rs 20 lakh scholarship through the Vivekananda Overseas Vidya Pathakam. Brahmins Sadan, which was built on 6 acres of land in Gopannapalli for Rs 20 crore, is ready for inauguration.
Welfare of Advocates
The Telangana government provided Rs 100 crore for the welfare of Advocates in a first-of-its-kind initiative. Under Advocates’ Welfare Trust, Health and Accidental Insurance was provided to 22,000 Advocates. Under this Insurance Scheme, 8,053 Advocates and their family members received Rs 38.45 crore.
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