HYDERABAD: The BRS’ launch of a Rs 1-lakh financial aid scheme for the backward classes (BCs) and minorities just four months before the elections has left potential beneficiaries suspicious about whether the promise would be fulfilled, unlike many unfulfilled vows made in election time over the years.
In 2018, just before the elections, the BRS government invited applications for a subsidy loan scheme and nearly 5.4 lakh had applied, and continue waiting for the release of funds.
For the minorities’ loans scheme, the state government invited applications twice, in 2015 and 2022, and 2.17 lakh persons applied. But, none of them have been processed so far.
Citing the backlogs, BC applicants to the Rs 1-lakh scheme are questioning whether inviting applications from the same sections of society was just a move to gain political mileage.
The situation of minorities is worse, as 1.53 lakh applications made for loans by unemployed youth to a notification issued by the TS Minorities Finance Corporation in 2015-16 were kept pending for seven years, before being totally discarded in December 2022, with no explanation.
While this time around, over 2.2 lakh minority youth submitted applications, they remain apprehensive due to past experiences.
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao launched the Rs 1 lakh scheme on June 9 and announced he would sanction Rs 400 crore for it, but not even Rs 50 has been released.
As per the promised schedule, the first batch of applicants should have gotten Rs 1 lakh cheques from July 15.
BC welfare minister Gangula Kamalakar distributed cheques to 23 beneficiaries on July 15 in Karimnagar as a token gesture, but there was no further disbursement in any district.
Although the government named these schemes as ‘Rs 1 lakh financial assistance scheme’, they became popular as ‘BC Bandhu’ and ‘Minority Bandhu’, since they are cash transfer schemes on the lines of the Dalit Bandhu, under which Rs 10 lakh aid is given.
