Telangana govt to spend Rs 40,000 crore for Dalit Empowerment in next 3-4 years : CM

Hyderabad:Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has announced that his government is ready to spend Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000 crore in the next 3-4 years for dalit empowerment in the state.

Addressing a 11-hour marathon all-party meeting, a rare one, held at Pragathi Bhavan here on Sunday night to finalise the guidelines for the CM Dalit Empowerment programme, Mr Rao said we have to take up united action plan on this programme and the Government is ready to implement phased wise action plan to remove social and economic problems of Dalits.

The state government has introduced several schemes and programmes for the development and welfare of Dalits, he said it has attained qualitative change in agriculture and education sectors.

But yet with an aim to set the Dalit families, who are under the poverty line move towards development, Dalit Empowerment Programme is being introduced at a cost of Rs 1200 Crore, he said it is the responsibility of the government to move the society forward like rearing of a child and any laxity would lead to a great loss to the future generations and the rulers would be held responsible for this.

From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, Dalits are socially and economically exploited classes, the Chief Minister said this trend should be done away with.

Mr Rao urged the leaders present in the all-party meeting to give suggestions to make Dalits move forward in the society with a confidence they too can progress, to make transparent policies for the empowerment of Dalits, which give no room for any manipulation and wanted the suggestions to be above the party politics.

Under Dalit Empowerment Programme, the government will provide financial assistance directly to the bank accounts of selected Dalit beneficiaries.

The All-party meeting,unanimously decided to provide Rs 10 Lakh financial assistance directly into the bank accounts of the Dalit beneficiaries under CM Dalit Empowerment Programme to the eligible Dalits to make them financially self-sufficient economically and their independent decision making.

In the first phase, from the total 119 Assembly Constituencies, 100 families from each constituency all over the state, the assistance would be given to the eligible 11,900 people selected.

Mr Rao said with projects like Kaleswaram, in rural areas, there is an increase in agriculture-based employment.

In the urban areas, Dalit youth explore possibilities in industrial and technological sectors.

He said solutions should be found separately for the problems of Dalits living in rural and urban areas.

The government aimed to implement Dalit Empowerment Programme strictly for the progress of Dalits, the Chief Minister clarified that the funds allocated for the Dalit Empowerment Programme are over and the funds were allocated for the SC Sub-Plan.

He said the salaries of sanitation workers are increased regularly without demanding it and added they would be given a salary model like the PRC as requested by the leaders in the all-party meeting.

Reservations to Dalits in the private sector would be examined, Mr Rao said through Dalit Empowerment Programmes, eligible poor Dalit beneficiaries would be given assistance without any bank guarantees. Special plans would be prepared following the policy of Centre for Dalit Studies for the welfare and development of Dalits, he added.

The all-party meeting felt that the proposed CM Dalit Empowerment Programme would bring in a qualitative change in the lives of Dalits and the programmes launched by the Chief Minister and his thoughts on Dalits have become a role model for the country.

The meeting also opined that the CM Dalit Empowerment Programme would further change the lives of Dalits for better.

Several party leaders who participated in the all-party meeting appreciated the CM’s initiative and expressed happiness over the latter's commitment and initiatives for the empowerment of Dalits.

CPI-M State secretary Tammineni Veerabhadram said the swift action taken by the Chief Minister in Mariamma’s lockup death case had enhanced Dalits self-confidence.He said the government should implement Dalit empowerment polices with dedication and commitment and his party would extend support to it.

CPI State Secretary Chada Venkat Reddy said programmes like Kalyan Laxmi and other development and welfare schemes are instilling confidence among the Dalits.

Former Minister and BJP leader M Narasimhulu heaped praises on the Chief Minister for working for the welfare and development of Dalits and wanted direct financial benefit schemes for Dalits like the Rythu Bandhu.

CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka has expressed confidence over the official machinery, which is working for the Dalit development.He said the official machinery should be robust to implement welfare and development programmes for Dalits.

Mr Vikramarka said instead of taking back the assigned lands, the land's cost should be calculated and accordingly shares should be allocated to the Dalits in the companies.

In the meeting, several Dalit MPs, MLAs, MLCs, intellectuals, senior leaders from various political parties have participated.(UNI)