Andhra Pradesh government to implement sub-plan for SCs and STs

RAJAHMUNDRY: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy tonight said Rs 1,000 crore and Rs 400 crore will be spent this year for infrastructure and water works in localities were SCs and STs stay.

He also announced that in order to provide better education facilities for students completing tenth standard, 100 hostels for SCs, each costing Rs 2 crore and 250 hostels for STs, each costing Rs 1 crore each, would be set up in the state.

A sum of Rs 1,150 crore would be spent to provide subsidy for providing self-employment to educated SC and ST youth, he said.

He said 500 students would be trained to appear for exams like TOEFL besides promising to establish study circles in east Godart as per a request made by district minister P Viswaroop and MP G V Harshakumar.

He said the SC/ST Sub-plan Act was enacted only in Andhra Pradesh.

Under the SC/ST Sub-plan Act, Reddy said, Rs 8,585 crore for SCs and Rs 3,666 crore for STs would be spent in the state during this year and any unspent amount would be carried forward to the next year.

Proper utilisation with total transparency would be maintained in utilisation of these funds, he said, adding that the state government's main aim is to implement the sub-plan and provide infrastructure.

"The government will maintain transparency in implementing the SC/ST sub-plan and there is no place for irregularities in implementing it," he said.

The state government has also relaxed norms for purchase of agricultural land to SC and ST families from existing Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, he said.

Reddy said 1.25 lakh jobs was created for SC and ST women and the backlog of 15,000 posts were filled up.

He criticised political parties like TDP, CPI, CPI-M, BJP, TRS and YSRCP for allegedly creating hurdles in passing the SC/ST sub-plan in the Assembly.

He said the SC/ST Sub-plan Act was enacted only in Andhra Pradesh.

Under the SC/ST Sub-plan Act, Reddy said, Rs 8,585 crore for SCs and Rs 3,666 crore for STs would be spent in the state during this year and any unspent amount would be carried forward to the next year.

Proper utilisation with total transparency would be maintained in utilisation of these funds, he said, adding that the state government's main aim is to implement the sub-plan and provide infrastructure.

"The government will maintain transparency in implementing the SC/ST sub-plan and there is no place for irregularities in implementing it," he said.

The state government has also relaxed norms for purchase of agricultural land to SC and ST families from existing Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, he said.

Reddy said 1.25 lakh jobs was created for SC and ST women and the backlog of 15,000 posts were filled up.

He criticised political parties like TDP, CPI, CPI-M, BJP, TRS and YSRCP for allegedly creating hurdles in passing the SC/ST sub-plan in the Assembly.