Major thrust on SC, ST sub-plans

Hyderabad: Substantial allocations for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Sub-Plan (SCSP and STSP) were made in the maiden Telangana State 2014-15 budget , presented by Finance minister Eatala Rajender. It was a big fillip for the holistic development of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Telangana.

In what could be the first time, the TS government allocated funds to the two sub-plans based on the size of the population of SC and ST communities in the State. As much as Rs 7,579.45 crore had been allocated for SC community which accounted for 15.44 per cent of the total population and Rs 4,559.81 crore to STs. The STS constituted 9.34 per cent of total population in State.

As per the SC and ST Sub-Plan act -2013, government had taken all necessary care to ensure that funds allocated by different department for the sub-plan are fully utilised also to see that there is no diversion of funds to other departments.

In the SC sub-plan, Scheduled Caste Development Department ( previously it was Social Welfare department) was allocated huge funds (Rs 2453 crore) , followed by Rural Development Department ( Rs 1269 crore), Rural water Supply ( Rs 409 crore) , School education ( Rs 371 crore) , and Weaker Section Housing was earmarked Rs 231 crore for the construction of houses exclusively for SCs.

The FAST (Financial Assistance to Students of Telangana ) would be extended to all eligible post metric students belonging to SCs at all levels of education under the sub-plan . As much as Rs 267 crore under the plan was provided for the the Fast scheme.

Under the Tribal su- plan, Rural Development Department was allocated Rs 685 crore to develop the basic infrastructure in the agency areas. All the existing welfare and development schemes being implemented in the tribal areas would continue. The ST Development Department would oversee the implementation of the sub plan.