Welfare is top priority of people’s govt., says Bhatti

Welfare is top priority of people’s govt., says Bhatti

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has reiterated that the people’s government of the Congress is committed to its welfare and ready to spend any amount of funds for implementation of schemes.

Mr. Vikramarka held a pre-Budget review meeting with the SC, ST, BC, and Minority Welfare departments at the Secretariat on Friday. “Those who ruled the State for 10 years had totally neglected self employment schemes for SC, ST youth,” he said and directed the officials to implement such schemes in two months with a budget of ₹3,000 crore.

He also instructed them to ready plans related to major employment or livelihood schemes. Mr. Vikramarka suggested prompt payment of rents, and diet charges related to welfare hostels and residential schools. He sought department-wise pending bills related to these items and told the officials to take responsibility for getting these bills sanctioned by the Finance Department.

He also advised the officials to follow up with Ministers, MLAs and senior officials to ensure their visit to welfare hostels and residential schools frequently. The schedule of these visits should be prepared in advance and people’s representatives and senior officials be reminded for the successful conduct of these programmes.

Under the Sub Plan Act, he instructed the officers to conduct a serious follow-up exercise on funds due to SC and ST departments from various other departments. The utilisation certificates related to Central government schemes must be submitted regularly to speed up securing funds from the Centre, he added.

Referring to distribution of land under The Forest Rights Act to tribals, he said lakhs of tribals were given land from Adilabad to Bhadrachalam. He instructed SC, ST departments’ officials to conduct joint meetings with Energy, Agriculture, Forest, and Horticulture officials.

“Make plans for taking up avocado, bamboo and other plantations to increase the extent of forest land under cultivation by utilising solar power and achieve results in the next two years,” he said.