Ambedkar's qualities are exemplary: Kolagatla

Vizianagaram: Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar led the nation on the path to progress, said MLC Kolagatla Veerabhadraswamy. The 123rd Jayanthi celebrations of Dr Ambedkar were organised on a grand scale at the local Ambedkar Kalyana Mandapam on Sunday.

Mr Veerabhadraswamy, who was the chief guest at the function, said that the hard work and determination of Dr Ambedkar to rise from the most downtrodden sections of the society to the highest position of writing the Constitution of the country, is exemplary. He recalled how he introduced reservations to bring about equality of Harijans and Girijans with the others in the society.

District Collector M Veerabrahmaiah said that nearly 20 per cent of the 23 lakh population in the district were SCs and STs. An awareness campaign was carried out from April 5 to 14 on the SC, ST Sub-Plan, he said. The grama sabhas as part of the Indiramma Kalalu that would take place up to April 30, has already been taken up in 30 per cent of the villages, he informed.

The Collector said that construction of nearly 25,000 houses is nearing completion and this year at least 10,000 houses would be completed, he said. Assests worth Rs 21.55 lakh were distributed to 28 beneficiaries as part of the programme. Also 32 couples were gifted Rs 4 lakh for inter-caste marriage. Students who achieved State ranks in the 2010-11 were awarded.