Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – Policies and interventions and GS-III – Entrepreneurship
In news The programme will be launched on a pilot basis in Huzurabad, Telangana on August 16.
What is Dalit Bandhu Scheme?
Dalit Bandhu is the latest flagship programme of the Telangana government.
It is envisioned as a welfare scheme for empowering Dalit families.
The scheme shall enable entrepreneurship among Dalits through a direct benefit transfer of Rs 10 lakh per family who have no bank guarantee to start their businesses.
Telangana CM Stated that “The financial assistance given by the government through Dalit Bandhu is free. This is not a loan. There is no need to repay it. There is no chance of any middlemen in this. Eligible beneficiaries will get the assistance in their bank accounts”.
Apart from monetary assistance, the government plans to create a corpus called the Dalit Security Fund permanently to support the beneficiary in the event of any adversities.
This fund will be managed by the district collector concerned, along with a committee of beneficiaries.
A minimum amount will be deposited by the beneficiary towards this fund.
The beneficiary would be issued an identity card with an electronic chip, which will help the government monitor the progress of the scheme.
Once implemented on the ground, this is going to be the biggest cash transfer scheme in the country.
The funds allocated for the scheme would be over and above the funds earmarked for the SC Sub Plan.
The state government will also pursue the scheme with the Centre for nationwide implementation.
