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Andhra Pradesh
By Our Special Correspondent
Details of the package, proposed at the TDP's Tirupati Mahanadu last month, are being worked out by a Cabinet sub-committee to see that seven major castes get their proportionate share. This huge dole was in addition to the budgetary allocation of Rs. 258 crores for BCs this year, the Minister for Social Welfare, J. R. Pushparaj, told reporters later. Mr. Naidu, who was addressing the party's extended executive committee on the final day of the two-day meeting, declared that serving Backward Classes and other weaker sections was an article of faith for the TDP Government. The TDP was always identified with the BCs who had extended unflinching support ever since it was founded. The party had been protecting their interests and giving their due share in the political power structure. There would be no compromise on this policy and the party would continue to encourage BCs. He claimed that no State had introduced as many welfare schemes for weaker sections as Andhra Pradesh. The social welfare budget of AP was higher than the allocations made by bigger States like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Referring to the resolutions adopted at the Mahanadu to give benefits to one crore people, he said the Government had prepared action plans and already issued all the relevant GOs. He announced that there would be no `cut-off marks' in EAMCET for admission of Scheduled Caste students to engineering colleges. In his 65-minute-long speech, Mr. Naidu made a reference to the new welfare schemes for Girijans (Rs. 278 crores) and minorities (Rs. 65 crores), proposals to build 6.47 lakh houses for weaker sections and 32.50 lakh individual sanitary latrines, the insurance scheme for rickshaw pullers and the moves to distribute 2 cycles to girls and 10 lakh ration cards to the poor. The TDP leader made it clear to his partymen that they would be accountable for ensuring that these benefits reached the eligible people. Cautioning them about attempts by Opposition parties to give a political colour to the distribution of ration cards, he said the beneficiaries must be chosen on the basis of the multi-purpose household data regarding their economic status.
Power dues
During the day-long interaction among the partymen, issues relating to irrigation and power dominated the discussions. Party leaders from Chittoor district reportedly drew Mr. Naidu's attention to the alleged discrimination against farmers in rain-fed areas vis-a-vis irrigated areas. They wanted agricultural power tariff reduced for non-irrigated areas as farmers had to make huge investments on borewells and pumpsets. Another demand voiced by several partymen was for deferment of electricity dues from farmers in drought-affected mandals for the period from January to June 2003. This move would be a logical step after declaration of nearly 1,000 mandals drought-hit by the Government in view of failure of the second crop.
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