Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy paid rich tributes to the veteran freedom fighter and former Deputy Prime Minister of India Babu Jagjivan Ram on the occasion of his 105th birth anniversary on Thursday.
In a message, the Chief Minister described Babu Jagjivan Ram as an able Parliamentarian who championed the cause of the poor and the downtrodden in the country until he breathed his last. His uninterrupted parliamentary career, spanning over half-a-century, was a world record in the legislative history of the country. Babuji, during his long-standing public life has left an indelible impression in the minds of the people, the Chief Minister said. He was widely admired for his leadership qualities and organizational abilities and always remained a force to be reckoned with in Indian Politics, the Chief Minister said and added that the State Government has taken many new initiatives for the welfare of the downtrodden, particularly for SCs and STs.
Beyond working towards achieving legal sanctity for SC, ST Sub Plans, the Chief Minister said that a Cabinet Sub Committee has been constituted to look into the utilisation of funds under the Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes Sub Plan. He said that the State Government would also seek the advice of the Planning Commission in this regard.
Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh would be the first State to make such a legislation for the welfare of the Dalits and the Adivasis. Thanks to the Constitutional provision of reservations in government jobs, educational institutions and legislature, Dalits and Adivasis could progress to a considerable extent in the last six decades. He said that the government has launched the Indira Jalaprabha scheme to cultivate 10 lakh acres fallow lands belonging to the SCs and STs. 6 lakh families who would be brought above the poverty line through this programme for which Rs 1800 crores is being spent.
The Chief Minister also said that government’s assistance for the houses have been substantially increased, particularly for the SC/ST beneficiaries. The unit cost of Indiramma Houses in rural areas is Rs.45,000 and in urban areas it is Rs.55,000. However SC/ST beneficiaries are given an additional loan amount of Rs.20,000/- in rural areas and Rs.30,000 in urban areas.
The Chief Minister exhorted the youth to emulate the high ideals of Babu Jagjivan Ram and to strive for building a modern India. (INN)