Leaders of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have appealed to Speaker Nadendla Manohar to conduct a day-long discussion on the problems being faced by the SC and ST communities in the state.
The leaders made this demand during the first meeting of the recently-constituted SC & ST Welfare Committees held at the state Legislative Assembly in Hyderabad on Friday.
Later, talking to reporters, SC Committee chairman Prasad Rao, ST Committee chairman Rajanna Dora, and member Jupadi Prabhakar Rao said that the Assembly must discuss the issues pertaining to the welfare of their communities.
Jupadi said that several issues were discussed in the meeting, including funds' allocation for the welfare of the SC and ST communities in the next budget.
He also complained of improper implementation of the SC, ST Atrocities Prevention Act in the state. He said that the state government must take remedial measures to ensure that the Act gets implemented.
The SC and ST leaders complained that protocol was not being followed during their official visits to various districts. They also wanted the installation of Dr. B R Ambedkar's statue in the premises of the Legislative Assembly.
The Speaker, on his part, assured them they their demands would be looked into. (INN)