Punjab polls 2012 analysis: ‘Atta dal’ brings Dalits to SAD-BJP fold

Jangveer Singh

Chandigarh, March 6

The atta daal scheme, which had saved the SAD-BJP from a rout in the last parliamentary elections, helped it annex Doaba, besides picking up seats all over the State.

Nearly 17 lakh families are getting subsidised wheat and pulses due under the scheme implemented in August 2007. The families are getting 25 kg of flour at the rate of Rs 4 per kg and 2.5 kg of pulses at Rs 20 per kg. Following reports of Dalits having supported the SAD in large numbers in the last parliamentary elections, the government had increased the number of beneficiaries by a few lakhs.

The SAD-BJP used the scheme as a prominent campaign issue while wooing the Dalit community. Coalition leaders claimed that the scheme would come to halt in case the Congress returned to power. This campaign had its effect with a sizeable Dalit population voting for the SAD-BJP for the first time.

The Congress in contrast did not come up with any new welfare scheme for marginalised sections. Even though PPC president Capt Amarinder Singh announced that all welfare schemes would continue in case the Congress came to power, this was not spelled out in its election manifesto. Other welfare schemes, including the Shagun scheme, under which help is given on the marriage of girls belonging to economically weaker sections, old-age pension and the Mai Bhago bicycle scheme to Dalit schoolchildren paid dividends to the SAD-BJP alliance.