Govt to clear pending self-employment schemes, hostel dues; plans forest land development, irrigation.
Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has directed officials to complete within two months, pending self-employment schemes and developmental works worth Rs 3,000 crore for beneficiaries from the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) communities. He also told them to clear arrears of rent and diet charges of social welfare hostels.
Chairing a pre-budget review meeting with officials from the BC, SC, ST, and minority welfare departments, Bhatti urged them to formulate comprehensive plans for the development of forest land. He said that youths from the BC, SC, ST communities had faced hardships under the BRS government and stated that the current administration was committed to their welfare. The government is ready to spend Rs 3,000 crore in the next two months to complete the schemes, he informed.
Bhatti sought details on pending dues for social welfare hostels, residential schools and gurukuls and instructed officials to submit bills regularly to the finance department to ensure their timely clearance. He stressed the importance of follow-ups to facilitate regular visits by ministers, MLAs and senior officials to welfare hostels and gurukuls, ensuring their effective functioning.
Bhatti also directed officials of the SC and ST departments to actively pursue funds under the sub-plan act and to submit utilisation certificates for projects implemented under various central schemes to secure further financial support from the Union government.
Talking about the distribution of forest land to tribal communities, Bhatti emphasised the need to develop the land for irrigation. He instructed tribal welfare officials to coordinate with the energy, forest and horticulture departments to establish solar power plants and encourage the cultivation of high-yield crops like avocado and bamboo, which can generate returns within two years.
Bhatti announced the state government's commitment to implementing lift irrigation projects in SC and ST areas to benefit marginalised communities. The meeting was attended by special chief secretary Ramakrishna Rao, SC Corporation principal secretary Sridhar, ST Corporation principal secretary Sharat, special secretary to the Deputy CM Krishna Bhaskar, joint secretary (finance) Haritha, irrigation secretary Patil and other senior officials.
