In an unprecedented manner, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi government led by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, has released a whopping Rs 2,000 crore towards implementation of Dalit Bandhu pilot project in poll-bound Huzurabad assembly constituency in a span of 17 days.
On Thursday, the Telangana government released another Rs 500 crore through state scheduled castes development corporation and it was deposited in the account of Karimnagar collector for the implementation of Dalit Bandhu.
The first instalment of Rs 500 crore for Dalit Bandhu was released on August 9, followed by another Rs 500 crore on August 24, Rs 200 crore on August 24, Rs 300 crore on August 25 and the last instalment of Rs 500 crore was released on Thursday.
“This marks the completion of the release of Rs 2000 crore for the scheme as announced recently by the chief minister at Karimnagar public meeting. The government machinery has made all arrangements at the field level to take up the project,” an official release said adding that the scheme would be implemented in Huzurabad in war footing from now.
According to an official familiar with the development, it is for the first time that such a huge amount was released in a span of less than three weeks for the implementation of the scheme in a single assembly constituency.
While only Rs 1,000 crore was allocated for the scheme in the budget, the remaining Rs 1,000 crore was obviously diverted from the other budgetary allocation made for the SC development.
“This diversion of funds to Huzurabad would affect the regular programmes like pre-matric and post-matric scholarships for the Dalits, administration of social welfare residential schools etc. But in his eagerness to win the by-election, KCR wants to divert all money to Huzurabad,” an analyst observed.
