Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has chalked out various plans for the overall welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
At a high-level review meeting here on Saturday, the chief minister envisaged a special growth engine project for the uplift and economic development of SCs. He suggested that the budgetary allocation for SC welfare be transferred to the SC welfare department for implementing the project and segmentation of Pucca Rural Dalits, Semi-urban Dalits and Pucca Urban Dalits. He wanted farming Dalits allotted three acres of land under the scheme.
Rao instructed the officials to formulate a policy in the areas of farming and other aspects of SC welfare, and recalled his slogan of “Telangana needs to be reinvented and reoriented”.
There has to be a flow of information from Hyderabad to villages and villages to Hyderabad. Officials should examine whether the land that is being allotted to the farming Dalits has all the required facilities and should obtain a report on a regular basis to rectify deficiencies, if any. For this, either mandal or municipality should be made a unit which should be headed by an officer from the welfare department.
Rao wanted a hierarchical structure for implementation of the land purchase scheme under which the needy will be provided three acres of land with water facility and other requirements like bore well, electricity and bore motor.
The chief minister also envisaged the idea of consolidation of land in Dalit segment. MLAs, MPs, ministers are to be involved in propagating the scheme and adopting the areas. Dalit educated youth are also to be involved in the welfare activities.
Rao wanted the pilot scheme taken up at the earliest. This requires identifying Dalit bastis one in each mandal to begin with on pilot basis. Dalit Sabhas will be organised in Dalit bastis to cross-check the data developed by authorities while implementing the schemes. He directed the officials that a foolproof data base on Dalit communities in all aspects should be developed and placed online by September.
The money allocated for the welfare of SCs shall not lapse at any cost and shall carry forward to next year. The required rules and regulations are to be framed by authorities. The programme implementation shall be monitored by Chief Minister’s Office. On successful implementation of the pilot scheme, the chief minister will approach the prime minister for additional funds.
The chief minister suggested that a special government brigade with about 500 community officers including those drawn from Dalit communities be formed for implementation of the scheme. Finance minister Eatela Rajendar, Parliament member K Kesava Rao and Ghanta Chakrapani and Mallepalli Laxmaiah too were present.
Highlights of Plan
Telangana will be be reinvented and reoriented
Farming Dalits to get three acres of arable land
Dalit Sabhas will be organised in Dalit Bastis
Effective data base on Dalit communities by September
No bank linkage
Govt will buy equipment and give it to Dalits
Courtesy : www.newindianexpress.com
