The Dalit Bandhu Scheme has helped many families from downtrodden communities in Khammam district in Telangana to stand on their feet and shoulder to shoulder with their privileged counterparts.

When the State Government launched the Dalit Bandhu initiative, a financial assistance program for Dalit residents of the State. The scheme was seen as a revolutionary development to propel families into economic development.

Over a period of one year, the scheme works to correct historical injustices. Affirmative actions are rejected by the mainstream by terming it 'vote-bank politics'.

A few years ago, it was almost impossible for Kambhala Ratnakar, a resident of Proddutur village in Chintakani Mandal to even dream of a better future. Hope had run out of his dictionary of life as he was only struck by hardships. Infected by polio at a tender age, he got physically disabled despite that he still completed his education and was working as a lecturer. Later, the pandemic hit him up and he lost his job. Just at that time, the State Government announced this Dalit Bandhu Scheme. Many of the Scheduled castes and families benefited from the scheme. While most of them who received money went outside for different ventures while Ratnakar was one of the select few who chose to set up a footwear store with the money as a receipt. Now his store has become the favorite of customers. He has hired some employees for the management of a business. His destiny is now in his hands. He considers that this scheme came as a miracle for him and gave him a new lease on life to him.

Another beneficiary, Tadikamalla Naresh who did B.Tech in Computer Science set up a digital walk unit and earns some ten to fifteen thousand rupees per programme and is also extending employment to youth. The coming of Dalit Bandhu changed life for him.

L Govinda Rao of Narasimhapuram village brought a tractor along with agricultural equipment with the final assistance provided by the scheme and now he is always on his toes. He recalls as to how he had slipped into financial ruin while also being infected with Covid-19 and Black Fungus. His family had to sell a certain share of his property to get the treatment done. This scheme also helped in ameliorating the stresses in his life.

Targeted people were regularly monitored still cases of corruption used to come to. Selection of beneficiaries was done in a transparent manner and these beneficiaries were also trained for the jobs where they would set up.

Leaders encourage beneficiaries to find new ideas. Extending schemes to the historically disadvantaged and excluded groups is much required. The scenario even by today hasn't changed much and still, their reservation should be maintained at the macro-level to give them the best equity needs possible.

.    .    .

Reference:

• justicenews.co.in