Telangana: MLAs will no longer select Dalit Bandhu beneficiaries

Hyderabad: Beneficiary selection guidelines following the Telangana High Court order will declare that the parliament will no longer have the power to select the beneficiaries of the Dalit Bandhu scheme.

The state government introduced the scheme in August 2021, which will provide Rs 10 lakh to Dalit families to set up units of their choice for self-employment. The original demand for legislators to select 100 beneficiaries from their respective constituencies in 2021-22 sparked protests in many districts, with Dalits accusing lawmakers of handing over support them, employees of TRS (now BRS) or their families, and friends.

BRS leaders are reported to have an influence on the candidates who will benefit by putting pressure on civil servants, even seats held by BJP and Congress.

However, they have now been deprived of their rights after the government revised the guidelines following the order from the High Court. A petition has been filed in the Telangana HC alleging the use of the scheme for political purposes, and illegality in the selection of beneficiaries by the BRS MLAs.

The court later issued an order on November 18 instructing a committee appointed by the state government to receive applications and select beneficiaries for Dalit Bandhu, rather than representatives.

The revised manual states that the scheme will be implemented in saturation mode in rural areas and neighborhoods in every district where the Dalit population is a minority.

The guidelines further indicated the extension of the program to other villages and areas in line with the increasing population. Currently, MPs select 100 beneficiaries in their area.

The revised HC guidelines also suggest holding local gram and sahas for beneficiary selection to ensure transparency.