Sub-Plan a boon to SCs/STs, says Malladi Vishnu

D Gopi Vijayawada: The Congress legislator from Vijayawada Central, Malladi Vishnu, who has been busy holding 'Indiramma Kalalu' meetings in the city for the past one week, to create awareness among the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes on Sub-Plan, said that it would bring a total change in the lives of the SCs and STs.Speaking to The Hans India here on Wednesday, Vishnu said that the change would be visible for all and it would remain in the history as a great contribution of the Congress for the most deprived people of the country. He further said that Andhra Pradesh has created a history of sorts by introducing Sub-Plan for the first time in the country. He said that the government had allocated Rs 12,000 crore under the Sub-Plan which would be totally implemented for the welfare and uplift of these sections. He further asserted that the funds allocated under this Sub-Plan would not be diverted as being done till date. "Every year, the funds marked under the Sub-Plan would have to be used for these sections only. The law made by the Andhra Pradesh government would not permit the officials to divert the funds for other works, which has been the practice for all these years," Vishnu said. The legislator said that they have been explaining the Sub-Plan issue to the people through the Indiramma Kalalu programme. The funds would be used to provide infrastructure like roads, drains, drinking water and electricity supply in the SC, ST habitations. Apart from that funds would be used to strengthen the schools and other community-based requirements for them, he added. Similarly, the funds would be used for helping these under privileged sections for their higher education and entrepreneurship. The other achievement that the people would remember the Congress was the 'Amma Hastham' which gives nine essential commodities on subsidy to the people below poverty line. The scheme, was being implemented through the fair price shops at subsidised prices. He said that the scheme would benefit the most deserving families in the State. He said that the scheme will be launched in the city on May 4 by the Civil Supplies Minister, D Sridhar Babu. When asked about the development of the city, Vishnu said that the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) had changed the face of the city over the last five years. The roads were widened and new roads were laid, he said and added that the civic administration was also able to extend the underground drainage to the entire city. "The civic administration, which has over 100 years history, could not provide underground drainage to the total city. It was possible only through the JNNURM scheme," he added. He said that the city was now passing through a crisis which is common for any developing region. "The present financial crisis is the result of the initiation of developmental works on a large scale and we would be able to overcome this soon," Vishnu asserted. When his attention was drawn to the Telugu Desam's criticism that the Congress legislators were blocking the greater city plans, the legislator said that it was not advisable to go for greater city when the civic administration was not able to meet the needs of the existing localities. "One should have a vision for future, while considering the present strengths and resources," he added.