Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday announced that his government would sanction Rs 10 lakhs as grant to the SC and ST students, who intend to prosecute higher studies abroad. He also said the government would take steps to provide another Rs 5 lakhs, if necessary, to these students through the banks.
The Chief Minister showered these sops to the SCs and STs while participating in “Indiramma Kalalu” program in Karvetinagaram village under Gangadhara Nellore constituency in Chittoor district.
Stating that the State government had been procuring patta lands from the farmers at Rs 1 lakh an acre and distributing them to the landless SCs and STs, Reddy said his government has decided to purchase lands even at Rs five lakhs per acre for purpose of land distribution to them. Pointing out that the government has been bearing a subsidy of 30% so far, he said he would hold a meeting with the higher officials on the issue of increasing the subsidy component.
Recalling that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar studied abroad and earned name as a legal luminary in the world and rose to the status of father of Indian Constitution, the Chief Minister exhorted the SC and ST students to go abroad for higher studies and return with flying colours. Keeping this in mind, the State government has decided to grant Rs 10 lakhs to the SC and ST students for studies abroad, he added.
The Chief Minister said though late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wanted to allocate funds as per ST sub-plan in 1974-75 and SC sub-plan in 1979-80, the State governments could not concentrate on the subject for various reasons. But the Andhra Pradesh government has come out with a comprehensive Act for effective implementation of SC and ST sub-plans at the initiative taken by Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. With a view to prevent mediators between the government and the SCs & STs, the State government has launched the Indiramma Kalalu program in the villages in order to bring about awareness among them on the concerned Act, he added.
The Chief Minister said that on the occasion of Babu Jagjivan Ram’s birth anniversary celebrations on April 5, his government decided to increase subsidy on house construction from Rs 65,000 to Rs one lakh to the SCs and Rs 5,000 to the STs. He also said that his government has waived power bill arrears of SC, ST colonies to the tune of Rs 268 crores. It was also decided not to collect power charges from those who consumed less than 50 units in the SC and ST colonies, he added.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that his government recently launched Re. one a kg rice scheme in the name of Amma Hastham. Besides, the government launched another scheme of providing nine essential commodities worth Rs 292 for only Rs 185 in deference to the wishes of housewives. (NSS)