Govt extends SC/ST Sub-Plan for 10 years

PNS|Vijayawada

The Andhra Pradesh State government has issued orders extending SC/ST Sub-Plan for another 10 years. To this effect, the orders were issued by Secretary to Government, Legal and Legislative Affairs & Justice, Law Department through GO Ms No 7 on Sunday (January 22)

APCC president Gidugu Rudraraju expressed happiness that the AP State government has brought an ordinance extending the SC/ ST Sub-Plan.

He said that the government issued the ordinance after the request made by the Congress party along with various political parties, Dalit, and tribal groups in the State. The Congress party is making it clear that this is the victory of the struggle of the Dalit and tribal groups.

The Congress party has suggested to the government to bring a strict law on SC /ST Special Development Fund” and to take strict measures to ensure that the funds allocated to SC/STs are not diverted. The Congress party demanded that 27 welfare schemes, which were stopped by the government, be restored.

On the other hand, a protest programme was held under the auspices of KVPS in Gundimeda village, Tadepalli mandal, on Sunday, demanding the continuation of the SC/ST Sub-Plan.

KVPS State general secretary Malyadri said that since 2004, KVPS and Dalit/tribal groups have fought for the allocation of the SC/ST Sub-Plan funds. He said that as a result, the SC/ST Sub-Plan Act was introduced in 2013 with the struggle of KVPS, Dalit, tribal, and Left parties leaders. He further alleged that the previous Telugu Desam government had diverted the funds of the Sab-Plan to welfare schemes. Similarly, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who came to power in 2019, has been diverting the funds of SC/ST Sub-Plan to the ‘Navaratnalu’ scheme.