Rules for T-Prime stuck in red tape

Hyderabad: The T-Prime scheme — Telangana Programme for Rapid Incubation of Minority Entrepreneurs —  aimed  at encouraging entrepreneurs from the minority sections to set up  industries, has failed to take off. 

The scheme was announced last year to extend industrial  subsidies to minorities on par with Dalit entrepreneurs under T-Pride.

The government asked officials to prepare guidelines for implementation of T-Prime last year. While the deadline was March 2017, they are yet to see the light of the day.

The industries department is awaiting the proposals from minority welfare department.

Industries minister K.T. Rama Rao has been inquiring about T-Prime guidelines during department meetings every time only to find that they were not submitted so far.

Under T-Prime, the government offers up to 75 per cent subsidy in power tariff, stamp duty, tax reimbursement and other incentives to minority  business entrepreneurs besides providing land at subsidised cost to set up  industries.

Outsiders hijack SCheme meant for Dalit welfare
The schemes meant for welfare and development of Dalits are being misused by others. Apart from 3-acre free land, the government is providing subsidy to Dalits to purchase cars, jeeps, tractors to eke out a livelihood by hiring them under T-Pride, Telangana Programme for Rapid Incubation of Dalit Entrepreneurs.

These vehicles are to be registered under commercial category to help the beneficiaries to rent them out.

The industries department, which implements T-Pride is flooded with  complaints over non-dalits availing the benefit through benamis. 

The complaints are more against non-dalit government staff. Minis-ter K.T. Rama Rao has ordered an inquiry.

The complaints came mostly from Karimna-gar, Warangal Urban, Warangal Rural,  Jan-goan, Bhupalapally, Nizamabad districts.

“We are waiting for the inquiry reports. Collec-tors have been asked to monitor the inquiry,” Mr Rao said.