Will Spend Rs. 12k Crore For SC-ST Welfare: CM

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday said that the state government has been implementing several welfare schemes to develop weaker sections on a permanent basis.

Addressing a meeting in Prakasam district as part of his Indiramma Baata program, the Chief Minister said that nearly Rs. 26,000 crores were being spent for welfare measures. He said that his government was committed to develop everyone from farm labourers to farmers, of 6 lakh SC-ST families, owing 10 lakh acres, with Rs. 1,800 crores.

He listed out the various schemes - including the Re-1-a-kg-rice scheme, interest-free loans to farmers and women, Streenidhi, the free power scheme for farmers, fee reimbursement and Rajiv Arogyasri - and said that the government would spend Rs. 12,000 crore exclusively for the welfare of SCs and STs this year.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also inaugurated "Indira Jala Prabha" at Bodanampally in Prakasam district during the program. The event was attended by ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and others. He also interacted with Chenchus at Kunta of Peddaaraveedu mandal.

Reddy said that only Rs. 156 crores were spent for ST welfare during 1999 to 2004, and that Rs. 340 crore spent from 2004 to 2011.

"However, this year alone, the government will be spending Rs. 1,562 crore for the welfare of STs," he stated.

The Chief Minister also said that he would examine the establishment of a pharma university in the state. He interacted with pharmacy students at Markapuram, where he said that the education system would be overhauled. (INN)