Hyderabad: The government of Telangana has launched the Dalit Bandhu Initiative for the Economic Development of the Dalits. In the scheme, each eligible family receives Rs 10 lakhs as financial assistance.
The Dalit families are happy with the help of Rs 10 lakhs, but they will have to pay tax on it, which is a cause for concern for the beneficiaries.
Although the state government approved R10 million for Dalits, the financial aid was not exempt from income tax.
Prime Minister K.Chandrashekhar Rao started the Dalit Bandhu scheme from his adopted village of Vasalamarri in the Alair constituency. In this regard, no instruction has been issued by the government that this scheme is not exempt from income tax.
Rs. 10 lakhs were each deposited in the bank accounts of the 76 families of the town. If the beneficiaries do not file income tax returns, they may receive notifications.
According to government officials, this plan to transfer R10 million into the accounts of beneficiaries is the first of its kind in the country. Normally the central or government benefit scheme does not exceed Rs 5 lakhs.
The state government could request the central government to exempt the Dalit Bandhu scheme from the income tax, the official said.
Source: The Siasat Daily