SC….ST ….Development
Statement in TS
Assembly
06-01-2017
The Telangana State government is of the firm view that
for the true development of the SC/STs, who were oppressed socially and
economically, an action plan should be drawn keeping in view the ground
realities. Besides allocating adequate funds for their development, awareness
should be brought into these sections to reap the fruits of development. This
will go a long way to bring in a qualitative change in the lives of SC/STs. Though
several governments, so far, had several plans, spent a lot of money, but yet
the Adivasis Gudems, Dalit colonies have remained symbols for backwardness and
poverty. The backwardness of these groups cannot be removed by cosmetic
changes. It is not only the nation or state; everybody should work for the
united goal of eradicating poverty. Only then there will be a comprehensive
development among the SC/STs.
Telangana State is comprised of backward and weaker
sections. About 85 per cent of people belong to SC, ST, BC and Minorities in
the State who are on the edge of the society. Discrimination has further
marginalised the SC/STs. They have scattered all around seeking livelihood. We
have been saying that these sections will get their self-confidence only
through the formation of the Telangana State. This we have said during the
Telangana agitation. The lives of these marginalised sections further disturbed
due to divisions among the Telangana Society. Hence, the government has decided
to give top priority to the Social welfare. This is the reason why a Lion’s
share was given to the Welfare in the State’s Budget.
The mechanical attitude that prevailed before the
formation of the Telangana State towards these sections is changed now with a
creative and implementable path of the present government. This is precisely
the reason why the government has changed the names of the SC/ST welfare
departments to SC/ST Development departments. We do not want to implement namesake
programmes under the name of Welfare and we never had such a narrow view. Every
programme that is implemented and every paisa that is spent should reach the
deserving and fulfill their needs. Allocation of three acres of land to Dalits
dependent on agriculture is a step in this direction.
Distribution of land to Dalits has been in
implementation since 1983. In these 32 years, Congress ruled for 16 years and
the TDP for 16 years. From 1983 to 2014, in Telangana region, about 39, 798
acres land was distributed to 32,800 persons, according to the records. Each
beneficiary has got an acre or half-an-acre or one fourth of an acre of land.
But the land distributed was not fit for agriculture. Often these lands were
arid patches located in the rock areas. Though the land distribution was very
much on the records, it did not serve the original purpose for which it is
meant. In some cases the land has changed the hands more than once. By this
land distribution, Dalits have not become farmers nor did they do any farming on
the lands. There is not visible change in their lives.
According to social scientists, if one Dalit family is
given three acres of land, the entire family will be able to survive. This is
the reason why in our election manifesto we have promised that each Dalit
family depending on agriculture will be given three acres of land. Accordingly,
in the Telangana state, we have distributed at the rate three acres of
cultivable land per family to 3671 Dalits under the scheme during the last two
and half years. The total cultivable land thus distributed was to a tune of 9663
Acres. Under the Congress and TDP rule on average per year 1243 acres was
distributed whereas we have distributed on average 3865 acres per year. For the
distribution of land to Dalits, the Congress had spent Rs 2.65 Crore in 16years
and the TDP had spent Rs 71.01 Crore in 16 years. The Telangana State
government had spent Rs 405.66 Core in the last two and half years!
We did not stop just by giving the cultivable land
alone. The government is proving the borewell, power connection and even
providing a motor to enable the beneficiary to start the farming activity. The
government is also giving financial assistance to the beneficiary for the first
crop. The beneficiaries have now realised the true benefits of our
comprehensive policies by experience. The land distribution of our government
has turned the farm labour into farmer. This has given us true happiness. In
order to empower the Dalit women, the land patta is given on the name of the
woman of the household. This programme is not a fixed one and it will be a continuous
process. This land distribution programme will continue in the years to come
based on the availability of the land.
The State government has taken several other measures
for the sociological and economical well being of the SC/ST farmers. A Micro
irrigation Scheme with 100 per cent subsidy is being implemented. Reservation
system is introduced in the market committees for the first time in the
country. No other state is having this system. With this 25 SC and 10 ST farmers
have become Market Committee Chairpersons in the State. In the 13 scheduled
area market committees ST persons are appointed as Chairmen. These reservations
have given a chance to the SC/ST farmers to grow politically and helped them to
become partners in the market committee affairs.
Dr Ambedkar said that it is only throug education among
the Dalits that the social transformationn is possible. We are of the firm view
that if one generation among these sections become educated, the entire
sociological scene in the state will change for the better. SC and ST are away
from the education stream due to several reasons. Still the literacy level
among these sections is low. Though several students are getting enrolled in
the schools but often become dropouts. They are opting out of the educational
institutions due to lack of support from the society. They are not drop outs
but push outs. We wanted to change this scenario and we thought about it during
the Telangana agitation. We have declared that we will implement KG to PG
education system in the new state. Strengthening of educational institutions in
the government sector only will help the SC/STs. Several families are not
sending the children to the schools, as they have no support. To ensure quality
education on par with the global standards with English as medium of education,
we have decided to encourage more and more residential education institutions.
As part of the programme, we are setting up residential schools in a big way. The
first step towards KG to PG is taken by establishing residential educational
institutions. For SCs 103 and for STs 51 new residential schools have already
been commenced.
The problems faced by SC girls to pursue higher
education are many. For the first time, the government has sanctioned 30 residential
degree colleges for SC women. This year we have started 23 and the rest 7 will
be started the next year. We are also planning to set up separate Hostels for
the SC women pursuing PG and other courses. By the next academic years, there will
be 413 SC/ST Residential schools (both old and new) in which about 2, 58, 000
students will study.
Our government has substantially increased the overseas
scholarships for the SC/ST students. Earlier each student is given Rs 10 lakh
only which we have increased to Rs 20 Lakh. During the last two and half years,
283 SC and 85 ST students are benefited by the scholarship and are studying aboard.
By the time Telangana state was formed it was only 42 SCs and 4 STs were given
such scholarships. While it was only Rs 4.06 Core was spent under the overseas
scholarship scheme before state formation, we, after the Telangana state is
formed spent Rs 42.76 Crore on the same scheme. Before the formation of the
State, there was only one SC Study Circle. TRS government has sanctioned 9 SC
Study Circles. We started one study circle per district in the erstwhile 10
districts. There are only 4 study circles for the STs Now and instructions have
been issued to establish more study circles where there is considerable ST
population in the districts. Through this August House, let me announce that
there will be more ST Study Circles start functioning in the State in future.
Our government desires that more and more SC/ST children should study and
should become agents of progress and prosperity of the Telangana state
Unfortunately, there is a feeling in the society that girl
child is a burden on the family. For the poor families, performing marriage of
the girl is a great financial burden. SC/ST families are facing hardships and
debts performing marriage of their daughters. Inhuman actions such as terminating
the female fetus and selling the girl child are taking place in the society.
Hence the government has decided to share the burden of the expenditure to be
incurred for the marriage of a girl. Under Kalyanalaxmi Scheme, which is first
of its kind in the country, so far, about 51,287 SC beneficiaries, 28, 839 ST beneficiaries
are given Rs 51,000 each totaling Rs. 408.64 Crore. Since the government made
the eligibility age as 18 years and above, there is a decrease in the child
marriages. Kalyanalaxmi scheme has not only reduced the financial stress but
also in reducing the child marriage, thus helping a social cause.
To encourage SC/ST entrepreneurs, the state government
has launched Telangana State Programme for Rapid Incubation of Dalit Entrepreneurs
(TS PRIDE). Under this programme, power subsidy given to industries set up SC/STs
has been increased from Rs one to Rs 1.50 per unit. Loans on a nominal interest
rate of 25 paise are given to small units, food-processing units set up by the
SC/ST entrepreneurs. Under investment subsidy scheme, the government is giving
35 per cent subsidy and for the women entreprenuers the subsidy is 45 per cent
after increasing by 5%. Sales tax exemption is increased from 50 per cent to
100 per cent. Through TS PRIDE, 2875 SCs, 1280 STs were benefitted. Under this
programme SCs were befitted by Rs 125.46 Core and STs by Rs 66.41 Crore. The
state government also decided to give training to the engineering graduates from
these communities and award contract works of several government developmental
works. The government has also decided to accord reservations in the contract
works.
Subsidy in the Economic support Scheme for the SC/STs have
also been increased. Earlier, the subsidy was maximum limit of Rs one lakh and
60 per cent. We have increased the maximum limit to Rs 5 Lakh. In the past two
and half years, 32041 SCs, 14732 STs were given subsidy of Rs 380 Crore under
the self-employment scheme.
In the united AP, STs were given only 6 per cent
reservation based on the population figures. After the formation of Telangana
State, their population increased to 9 per cent. We have promised in our
election manifesto that STs will be given reservation based on their
population. In accordance with our promise made, the government appointed
Chellappa Commission to study the socio economic conditions of the STs. The
Commission has extensively toured all over the State and took opinions from the
people. The Commission had submitted its report to the government. The state government has decided to give reservations
to the STs based on their population. In tune with this, I am happy to announce
that a Bill increasing the reservation quota for STs will be introduced in this
House shortly.
There is a feeling among the STs that girijan thandas
are away from the development, as they are not treated as Gram Panchayats.
There is a long pending demand for changing the Thandas into Gram panchayats.
Several agitations have also taken place on the demand. In past, political
parties used to promise that they will change Thandas into Gram panchayats
during the elections and later forget about it. But the TRS government is
committed to fulfill this demand. Let me assure my ST Brethren through this
House, that all the Tandas will be converted into Gram Panchayats by the time next
local body elections are held.
Artistes have played a major role during the separate Telangana
movement. Among the artistes majority of them are from the SC/STs and backward
classes. To honour the Telangana artistes the state government launched Telangana’s
Samskritika Saradhi in which 550 artistes were given jobs. Among them are 319 SC’s
and 38 STs.
As I have informed earlier, the State government is
giving top priority to the Welfare sector. The state is implementing 33 welfare
schemes at a cost of Rs 30,000 Crore. SC and ST are benefitted more through
these welfare programmes. Out of the amount being spent on the poor, a major
portion is directly reaching the SC and STs.
Among the Aasara Pension scheme beneficiaries, there
are 4, 66, 167 SCs and 2, 34, 817 STs. Among the Beedi workers who are getting
the pension, there are 27,034 SCs and 3909 STs. Among the farmers who got their
loans waived, there are 6, 01, 024 SCs and 4, 57, 474 STs.
Among the students who are getting the fee reimbursements
are 2, 34, 708 SCs and 1, 27, 007 STs. Among the beneficiaries of the 6 kg rice
scheme, there are 63, 39, 709 SCs, 19, 56, 805 STs. In the schools and hostels where fine rice is given, 6, 56, 509 SC’s
and 2, 03, 205 ST students are benefitted.
Under Arogya Laxmi
scheme, about 5, 51,747 SCs and 3, 87, 190 STs are getting benefitted. Under
Mission Bhagiratha dirking water supply scheme through pipes, about 1, 68, 281
SC families and 71, 604 ST families will get benefitted. 25 per cent SCs and
STs are getting benefitted through the pension scheme for the old age artistes.
The state government
is also honoring SC and ST community persons excelled in various fields. Ms
Poorna and Mr Anand who scaled the Mount Everest were given Rs 25 lakh each
besides felicitations to them. Five acres land each is also given to their
families. Rs 25 lakh is given to Ajmera Babi for the pilot training.
Our government is effectively implementing
the SC-ST Sub Plan meant for spending funds based on the population figures between
the SC and STs. I am proud to announce that the government is spending more
funds other than those allocated under the ST/SC Sub plan. When compared to the
past, during these two and half years the government had spent more money under
the SC/ST Sub plan. This is what I would like to bring to the notice of this
House.
- · In 2011-12, Rs 2152 Crore was spent on SCs and Rs 929 Crore on STs
- · 2012-13, Rs 2127 Core on SCs, Rs 1023 Crore on STs
- · 2013-14, Rs 2042 Crore and Rs 833 Crore on STs
If we look at the
figures of funds spent on SCs and STs after the formation of the Telangana
State one would understand the importance we have given to these sections.
·
2014-15, we have spent Rs 2913 Crore on SCs
and Rs 1728 Crore on STs
·
2015-16, Rs 4601 Crore is spent on SCs and Rs
3187 Crore on STs
·
2016-17, so far, we have spent Rs 4515 Core
on SCs and Rs 2907 Crore on STs have been spent.
The then Congress
government had passed the SC/ST Sub Plan in 2013-14 and funds were allocated
and spent on the basis of the Act. Under 2013-14 Planned Budget, Rs 17, 583
Core was spent. Of this, for SCs Rs 2042 Crore and for STs Rs 833 Core was
spent. This would mean for SCs 11.61 percent and for STs 4.74 percent only was
spent. After Telangana state came into being, in 2014-15, 12.32 per cent for SCs
and 7.30 per cent for STs was spent under the Plan expenditure. In 2015-16,
11.52 per cent for SCs and 7.98 per cent for STs was spent. In 2016-17, so far,
13.20 per cent for SCs and 9.18 per cent for STs was spent.
If we take all the
statistics, the government has spent more than the figures of the SC/ST Sub
Plan. Rs 4515 Crore for SCs and Rs 2907 Core for STs were spent under the Sub
Plan in 2016-17 till date. On the whole Rs 6317 Crore was spent on SCs and Rs.
3942 Crores on STs in the Budget so far. These amounts are being spent in the
nine months period and we have still three more months left with more
possibilities to spend some more amounts for these sections.
The government is taking all measures to
improve the conditions of the SC/STs and make them on par with other sections
of the society thereby instilling confidence among them. The figures and measures
are only few examples of the initiatives taken by our government with
commitment and dedication for the development of SCs and STs. However, we feel
that a lot more to be done in this regard. Thorough this House, we want to tell
people of Telangana that we will take several more measures and initiatives for
the development of SCs and STs and implement them with commitment and
dedication. Bangaru Telangana is possible when all sections of the people
develop with equal opportunities and in an equal measure.
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