‘Congress Govt stands for the dignity of Dalits’

Metro India News | Hyderabad : The Congress government is firmly committed to safeguarding the dignity, equality and constitutional rights of Dalits and tribal communities, Minister for Welfare Adluri Lakshman Kumar said on Tuesday. He said the first State-level High-Powered Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting, chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, since the formation of Telangana was evidence of the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Addressing a press conference at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat, Minister Lakshman Kumar said 7,563 cases had been registered in Telangana under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, since 2023. The Government was taking steps to ensure victims received compensation and assistance as mandated by law.

He said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had personally reviewed case registrations, investigations, trials, disposal and relief provided to victims. The committee reviewed implementation of the Act, investigations and trials, special and mobile courts, victim rehabilitation and awareness programmes.

The Minister said officials had been directed to release compensation without delays caused by budgetary procedures, using a green channel. Taking a political swipe at the previous BRS government, he questioned why such State-level meetings had not been held during the previous decade?  

Referring to a recent incident involving protests by Dalit organisations and the alleged purification of the site with cattle, Lakshman Kumar condemned it as an affront to Dalit dignity. He said the meeting had decided to ensure strict action.

He said welfare measures included allocating 31% of Indiramma houses to Dalits and 17% to STs, providing fine-quality rice to 3.48 crore people, and breakfast to 27.5 lakh students. He said cosmetic and mess charges for SC, ST, BC and minority welfare hostels would be released in the first week of every month to prevent shortages. Lakshman Kumar said the Government was committed to improving the lives of Dalits, tribals and Adivasis through dignity, equality, education, employment and welfare.