Kiran Reddy moves SC/ST sub-plan bill

The SC and ST subplan funds will be completely used for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the state from the 2013-14 budget.

Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy introduced AP Scheduled Castes Sub-plan and Tribal Subplan (Planning, Allocation and Utilisation of Financial Resources) Bill - 2012 in the state Assembly on Friday.

Terming the Bill historic, he said Andhra Pradesh was the first state to make a legislation on utilisation of SC and ST sub-plan funds.

Admitting that no government till date had utilised the funds completely for SCs and STs, the chief minister said his government recognised the need for a separate legislation for it.

He recalled that ST sub-plan was introduced by Indira Gandhi during 1975-76 and the SC sub-plan during 1979-80.

Though the Planning Commission issued guidelines on fund utilisation, the state government recognised the need for a legislation in place of guidelines as funds were used even for Necklace Road works and cleaning of Hussain Sagar.

Last year the state spent only 12.24 per cent for SCs and 5.98 per cent for STs, he said.

The Assembly adjourned for the day after the bill was introduced. The debate on it will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

Why This Act?

* As per the population, the government should allocate 16.23 pc funds in the budget for SCs and 6.6 pc for STs.

* In spite of Planning Commission’s guidelines, the sub-plan funds are diverted to other works .

*A state council headed by the chief minister will release the funds and review the progress of utilisation of funds. The council will meet at least twice in a year.

* State-level and district-level SC and ST sub-plans will also be prepared.