SC & ST panel members spew fire on district officials

Chittoor: The anguish and dissatisfaction of SC, ST Welfare Committee continued in the review meeting held at Chittoor on Wednesday also. The Committee openly expressed its discontent over the district administration in implementing 'Rule of Reservation' at various levels during the review meeting held with TTD officials in Tirupati on Tuesday. Speaking at the review meeting held at ZP conference hall in Chittoor on Wednesday, Committee member Harish Rao told the district officials to provide a peaceful life to SCs and STs in the district by implementing the 'Rule of Reservation' in various aspects. He also directed them work irrespective of political flavour and pressures. He questioned Tirupati Urban SP and in-charge of Chittoor district, Rajasekhara Babu, why compensation to SC and ST victims was not paid so far. Pointing out that the district administration has paid compensation only to 61 victims out of total 141 in 2012-13, he asked the reasons for the delay. He also asked that why none was arrested in connection with the complaints by SC and ST victims in the year 2012-13 where 34 cases were booked under SC, ST Atrocities Prevention Act. Does it mean the discrimination towards SC/ST communities, he questioned. Harish Rao faulted the Inspector of Police of Pakala station for failing in registering cases and arresting the culprits under SC/ST atrocities act and faulted the favouring of upper caste persons. He directed the inspector Venkata Narayana to register cases against upper caste persons based on the complaints by SC/ST people. He also faulted the low performance by district industry department in sanctioning of loans through banks for establishment of cottage industries and described the dilution of welfare schemes by certain officials. Industry department general secretary Ramalingeswara Rao explained that no suitable beneficiaries approached him and hence only six persons have received bank loans under SC/ST category during 2012-13, which was refused by Harish Rao and suggested him to create awareness at mandal level among SC/ST educated youth and special motivation camps periodically. Harish Rao also faulted Ravi Kumar, Joint Director of Agricultural Department for neglecting the distribution of input subsidy during 2011-12. He pointed that why the performance was limited to just Rs 55 crores against the target of Rs 75 crores and was not satisfied with his answer. He also faulted the district administration in taking care in appointing SC/ST persons as public prosecutors in various courts. He also questioned the district collector that why the allocation of fair price shops is low and what steps are being taken to do justice to SC/ST communities. He pointed that only 88 shops were allocated to SC/STs against the sanctioned number 188.

Harish Rao flays CM for being visionless on quota rule Chittoor: Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLA and member of SC, ST Welfare Committee Harish Rao flayed Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for lack of vision in the implementation of 'Rule of Reservation' in his home turf, Chittoor district. The CM should pay special attention on his own district, but no justice is done to SC and ST communities whether it is TTD or it is SVBC or in various welfare schemes, he said. After participating in a review meeting with district officials, he spoke with the media here on Wednesday. The TRS MLA said that the CM is touring the entire State to explain about the SC, ST Sub-plan but no officials are serious about the scheme. Several lapses in various departments came into light after reviewing the implementation of Rule of Reservation in Chittoor district and majority of the officials are showing negligence on this issue and SC/ST communities are unhappy with the performance of the government. Harish Rao also said that even after three years many farmers have not received input subsidy and no officer is in a position to explain the farmers. Despite Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's promise to supply one rupee rice to all welfare hostels, no hostel had received it so far and the proposal was limited only on papers, he said. Alleging that the CM had not taken any action against the discrimination meted out by SC, ST communities regarding allocation of fair price shops, Harish Rao said all these issues will be raised in legislative assembly, he replied. The publicity is not enough, but there should be implementation and feedback from lower level periodically, he pointed. Many officials don't have statistics of SC/ST beneficiaries and no monitoring from higher officials, which reflects the seriousness and command of chief minister on his own district, he observed.