Guidelines sought for SC,ST Sub plan

VIJAYAWADA: Dalita Hakkula Porata Samithi (DHPS), AP Vyvasaya Karmika Sangham and AP Girijana Samakhya have jointly staged a satyagraha near the Sub-Collector’s office here on Monday, demanding that the government prepare guidelines for effective implementation of the SC,ST Sub Plan.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu through Krishna Collector M. Raghunandan Rao.

Addressing the gathering, CPI State secretary K. Ramakrishna said that Mr. Naidu had mastered the art of changing colours after he came to power. He showered the Dalits with tall promises when he was in the Opposition, but ignored the communities soon after coming to power.

The State government has not formulated any guidelines for implementation of the SC,ST Sub Plan. There was an urgent need to check that the funds meant for Dalits and STs were not diverted for other purposes. The Sub Plan has to be implemented in letter and spirit, he said adding, the dalit population was 17.1 per cent and 5.4 per cent tribals population in the State. The policies and budget should be aimed at their welfare.

The CPI leader said that the government should take necessary measures to implement Koneru Ranga Rao Committee recommendations on distribution of government lands to landless poor and Dalits. Most of the government policies were being implemented in public private partnership (PPP) mode. He sought reservations for Dalits and tribals in private sector.

Source: The Hindu