Kishan puts TRS on mat over Dalit Bandhu sop

HYDERABAD: Union tourism and culture minister G. Kishan Reddy on Monday wondered about the status of Dalit Bandhu scheme, which was announced by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao ahead of the Huzurabad byelection.

Speaking on the occasion of the 65th death anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, one of the founding fathers of the Constitution, the Union minister recalled the Telangana government’s announcement to give Rs 10 lakh to each Dalit family in the state under the Dalit Bandhu scheme and questioned the Chief Minister about the status of the scheme.

The Chief Minister had selected the Huzurabad Assembly constituency to launch the scheme as a pilot project to extend financial assistance to all Dalit families, just before bypoll. Accordingly, over 20,000 beneficiaries were identified and the government released Rs 2,000 crore to provide Rs 10 lakh each to Dalit families.

The government had credited the amount into the bank accounts of over 17,000 beneficiaries by the time the Election Commission had halted the scheme on October 19. The CM stated that the remaining 3,000 beneficiaries would get the amount from November 4. But after the bypoll, the government did not make any announcement about the scheme.

The Union minister also paid rich tributes to Dr Ambedkar and said his efforts to usher in an egalitarian society with social justice for all was a contribution beyond words.

Speaking on the occasion, SC Morcha State president Koppu Basha said it was a blot on Telangana people as Chandrashekar Rao did not honour Dr Ambedkar in the last seven years.