Govt will take best care of Dalits: CM

- Participates in Dalit Shankaravam in Rajahmundry

- Announces sanction of funds for several schemes

- Felicitated by Dalit bodies with title of 'Dalit Bandhu'

- Several Union and State Ministers take part in programme

Rajahmundry: The State government is committed to spending every rupee earmarked for SCs and STs through the SC-ST Sub-Plan, Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy said here on Sunday. He reminded that the State government had earmarked Rs 12,251 crore for SC/ST Sub-Plan this year and he made it clear the funds would be spilled over to next year if they were not completely utilised this year.

Addressing 'Dalit Shankaravam' meeting at Government Arts College Grounds, he unveiled several schemes for the SCs and STs. A Appreciating his initiatives for the overall development of Dalits, Amalapuram MP GV Harsha Kumar, who presided over the meeting, along with Dalit organisations and leaders of East Godavari, felicitated Kiran Kumar Reddy and honoured him with the title of 'Dalit Bandhu.'

The Chief Minister announced sanction of funds of various schemes for the welfare of SCs and STs. Rs 1,000 crore would be spent on providing basic amenities in SC, ST habitats across the state. An amount of Rs 400 crore had been provided for protected drinking water schemes as well in these habitats. Unveiling his government's initiatives for the youth from SC and ST communities, he said 100 post-metric SC hostels would be built at a cost of Rs 200 crore and 250 such hostels were granted for STs with a budget of Rs 250 crore this year.

Further, training for entrance tests like TOFEL would be provided to 5,000 Dalits. Taking note of a demand for an SC study centre to provide coaching for civil services, he said he was conceding it and it would be set up in Amalapuram. The Chief Minister said the government would be providing around Rs 1,150 crore as subsidy for those desiring to set up self-employment units. Around 2.6 lakh SC youth would benefit from this scheme, he said.

To extend easy and speedy financial assistance, the government had decided to revive National Scheduled Caste Finance Development Corporation and National Safaya Development Corporation in the State, he announced. Kiran Kumar Reddy took pride in stating that Andhra Pradesh had become a role model for others States and the Centre in enacting a legislation on the SC/ST Sub-Plan. UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had written to all States to implement the SC/ST Sub-Plan. He also gave due credit to the cabinet sub-committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha for pursuing the SC/ST Sub-Plan vigorously and submitting a report in a short span of three months.

Kiran Kumar Reddy took a dig at opposition parties like TDP, YSRCP, Left, BJP and TRS for trying to block the legislation in the Assembly. A He satirically mentioned that TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu had time for padayatra but not for participating in the discussions on the bill in the Assembly. A Speaking on the power crisis, he explained that the State government was spending Rs 5.25 on each unit generated, but it was collecting only Rs 1.45 from consumers.