Dalit Empowerment as KCR sees it : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Dalit Empowerment as KCR sees it

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 The Pioneer (01-07-2021)

Empowerment is the degree of autonomy and self-determination in people and in communities, enabling them to represent their interests in a responsible and self-determined way, acting on their own authority. It is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights. Empowerment as action refers both to the process of self-empowerment and to professional support of people, which enables them to overcome their sense of powerlessness and lack of influence, and to recognize and use their resources.

Rural and urban as well as Dalit livelihoods are enhanced through effective participation of people and communities in the management of their own social, economic and environmental objectives by empowering people, particularly Dalit. Empowerment hinges broadly on three pillars, which when put together, can work wonders, namely, community empowerment, partnerships, and holistic development.

In this context and background, during this week, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has embarked on yet another innovative but extraordinary initiative to empower several sections of people, from those living in rural areas to strengthen the rural economy, those living in the urban areas and lastly but not the least, the Dalits living all over the state to live with dignity, self-respect and to become self-sufficient economically forever.

CM KCR’s innovative schemes especially the Dalit Empowerment Policy in the presence of Dalit leaders cutting across the party lines, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other stake holders was welcomed by all of them including the politically opposing parties from the Congress to BJP. This has once again proved his unquestionable commitment towards all sections of people and his dedication to work for the development and welfare. The marathon 11-hour all party meeting and with the Dalit representatives chaired by KCR demonstrated his concern for Dalits and other oppressed classes in the society.

A day before, while reviewing Palle and Pattana Pragathi Programs the next phase of which are scheduled to commence from First July, the CM called upon the public representatives and official machinery to treat rural and urban development as a continuous process and discharge their duties thinking that the needs of people as top on the agenda. He wanted the administrative set up to gear itself to make the Telangana state an ideal state in the country.

For the development of villages and urban areas, the government would keep two Crore rupees of funds with the Ministers and one crore rupees with all the district collectors. CM said Collectors play a key role in the development of villages and urban areas and they should select an efficient working team and make them partners in the developmental programs. In the meeting, the CM said that the state government stood by the farmers and agriculture and the state had turned itself into a great agriculture-based state. Telangana State became a rice bowl and crops are in abundance.

Since the sale of spurious seeds, fertilizers and pesticides are causing havoc to the rural economy and to farmers in the state, the CM instructed the agriculture and police department to act in coordination and with Collectors and other higher district officials using their special powers to eradicate the spurious seeds sale.

Cleaning profile of urban areas will have to be prepared and accordingly CM KCR had instructed the officials to prepare a list of the retired employees, ex-servicemen and utilize their services in Pattana and Palle Pragathi programs. Since new integrated Collectors’ complexes are made functional, measures should be taken to protect all the government buildings and assets in the district and they should be utilized for the public utilities. During the ten-day Pattana Pragathi program, officials should plan in accordance with ‘Map your town’ model and rectify the mistakes in the urban areas.

The CM said under the Dalit Empowerment Program eligible Dalit BPL families would be developed in a phased manner and this is in addition to SC Sub Plan. The CM said Collectors and higher officials would play a key role in removing backwardness and problems of the Dalits and beneficiaries should be selected in a transparent way. He said beneficiaries should be selected by draw of lot and like the Rythu Bandhu and old age pensions, the financial assistance should be given to the beneficiaries and the amount should be credited to their bank accounts.

It was decided at the all-party meeting to send Rs 10 Lakh financial assistance directly to the bank accounts of the Dalit beneficiaries under CM Dalit Empowerment Program to the eligible Dalits. In the first phase, from the 119 Assembly Constituencies, 100 families from each constituency all over the state will be chosen and the assistance would be given to the eligible 11,900 people selected. For this, the All-Party meeting decided to ear mark Rs 1200 Crore. The government wanted to do more for Dalits who had been discriminated for generations. In addition to spending Rs 40,000 crore in coming years, a corpus fund would also be set up.

CM said through Dalit Empowerment Program, eligible poor Dalit beneficiaries would be given assistance without any bank guarantees. Special plans would be prepared following the policy of Centre for Dalit Studies for the welfare and development of Dalits.

The proposed CM Dalit Empowerment Program, as felt by the all-party meeting, would bring in a qualitative change in the lives of Dalits and the programs launched by the CM and his thoughts on Dalits have become a role model for the country. CM Dalit Empowerment Program would further change the lives of Dalits for better. The All-Party meeting was convened to make them stake holders to stand unitedly by the Dalits, remove their inferiority and to bring in qualitative change in their thought process and attitude.

For the last seven years, CM KCR’s endeavor is to bring in a qualitative change in the lives of all sections of people in the State. His commitment to strengthen the rural economy, turn agriculture as profitable venture, revive and revitalize the hereditary professions, effect rapid changes in the power, education, medical and health sectors supported by a slew of progressive measures are all aimed at creating wealth and strengthening the economy which is in doldrums in the rest of the country.

Though he never made any proclamation, CM KCR is aiming at something very high, mighty, and big. He is laying a strong foundation for future generations’ prosperity, peace, harmony, and development. Making all sections of people to become economically self-reliant, revolutionary administrative reforms, progressive and forward-looking changes in the education sector, KCR is thinking and acting like a Statesman, which ordinary people find it difficult to understand and digest. (With VJM Divakar, Senior Journalist)