The Opposition parties on Wednesday criticized the State government for neglecting the welfare of SC, ST and BCs and diversion of SC/ST sub-pan funds for other purposes.
Participating in the discussion in the Assembly on budget demands of Social Welfare, TDP MLA from Kikaluru Venkataramana said that the Congress government was showing discrimination towards welfare sector. Though the financial status of SCs and BCs improved to some extent, they still remained backward socially. The students were facing hardship to get income certificate from the concerned authorities for the purpose of tuition fee reimbursement.
Criticizing the government for putting new conditions for the facility of tuition fee reimbursement, he pointed out that the tuition fee reimbursement was not applicable to the SC, ST and BC students, who joined in the courses under management quota. There were instances of the students, who failed thrice in 10th class examinations, were selected for IAS. He also strongly criticized the government for putting upper age limit of 30 years to handicapped and 35 years to others in tuition fee reimbursement facility.
He also pointed out that presence of belt shops in the Dalit-dominated localities was showing impact on their financial status. He charged the government with diluting the concept of cooperative societies. Due to non-conduct of elections to the cooperative societies, Rs 1800 crores, which were meant for loans to the farmers, were rotting.
Lok Satta member Dr Jayaprakash Narayan reminded that Rs 23,000 crores have been allocated for welfare in the 2012-13 budget. With the sops and subsidies, the successive governments were turning the people into parasites instead of making them financially self-sufficient. He asked the government whether it wanted the poor to lead a dignified life or as beggars depending on government doles.
“The trend of non-increase of population and economic growth was a good chance to root out poverty from the State. The State government has spent Rs 3.5 lakhs on each family in the form of subsidies and welfare schemes in the last five years. Why poverty still continuing in the State even after spending such a huge amount on each family”, he wondered.
He opined that ensuring quality education was one and only effective method for welfare of the people and permanently remove the poverty from the society. The tuition fee reimbursement was benefiting the private colleges more than the poor students. If there was no Rajiv Arogyasree Scheme, several corporate hospitals would have been closed down. The emphasis of Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu scheme should also promote self-employment, he opined. He also stressed the need to encourage inter-cast marriages by providing incentives including reservations and jobs.
The CPI(M) member, Julakanti Ranga Reddy demanded for 5-year package for development of Dalits in the State. Funds should be allocated to the SCs, STs and BCs in the budget in proportion to their population. He alleged that Rs 25,000 crores of SC/ST sub plan funds have been diverted in the last 19 years. Reminding that posts of Chairman of SC/ST Commission remained vacant in the last two-years, he urged the government to appoint a Chairman for the Commission. The 70,000 backlog posts should be filled by the government immediately, he added. Though the Muslims constituted 10 per cent in the population of the State, only one percent of the total budget was allocated to their welfare, he added.
Nominated MLA Christine Lazarus demanded setting up of a Christian House in the city like Haz House. The government should take steps for protection of properties of the Chruches, she added. (NSS)