SC/ST funds diverted, admits Andhra Dy CM

HYDERABAD: The state government had diverted about Rs 1,500 crore meant exclusively for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to other welfare schemes in the last few years, deputy chief minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha admitted on Monday.Speaking to reporters after participating in a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on SC, ST sub-plans in his chambers in the State Secretariat, Rajanarasimha said Rs 1,500 crore had been diverted to other departments but the amount would be brought back to social welfare the department and the funds utilised for the welfare of weaker sections.He said priority would be given in the utilisation of funds to education and improvement of infrastructure in SC, ST schools and hostels.He said the initiative was being taken following the instructions of prime minister Manmohan Singh who wanted that the economic gap between the rich and the poor narrowed down in the 12th plan period.The deputy chief minister said the cabinet sub-committee decided to hold widespread deliberations and workshops with various stakeholders including SC, ST associations, public representatives on the SC and ST sub-plan and also conduct workshops in all the three regions of the state on the utilisation of funds meant for SCs and STs.Weekly meetings will be held with various departments to elicit their opinions and consultations held with recognised groups of SCs, STs and others.Workshops on SC, ST sub-plan will be conducted in districts except in the pollgoing 12 districts.The sub-committee will hold a series of meetings with officials of SC and ST welfare departments to study the pattern of utilisation of welfare funds.It will submit its report to the government in 45 to 55 days.Basing on the report, the government would implement the welafre schemes, he said.The meeting was attended by Anam Ramnarayan Reddy (finance), J Geetha Reddy (major industries), Pithani Satyanarayana (social welfare), P Balaraju (tribal welfare), Erasu Pratap Reddy (law), Dokka Manikya Varaprasad (rural development), Basvaraj Saraiah (BC welfare), S Sailajanath (primary education) and Kondru Murali (medical education).