Vijayawada: The state govt has restored 34% reservation for BCs in local bodies. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said similar reservation would be given to them in nominated posts. The CM, who held a review meeting with ministers and officials of welfare departments on Monday, asked them to prepare a BC Protection Act on the lines of the SC/ST Act, for which a cabinet sub-committee was formed to ensure that no legal problems arise in the future.
Naidu said because of the previous YSRCP govt’s decision to reduce BC reservations from 34% to 24%, the community lost representation in 16,500 positions in local bodies. He asked officials to prepare plans for setting up skill development centres, which will be named after SR Sankaran. “As part of skill education, these centres will provide students with spoken English, social-emotional skills, moral values, ethics, digital literacy, and legal awareness training. This will be implemented as a pilot project in 104 BC hostels across 26 districts,” he said.
After reviewed the facilities in BC welfare hostels, Naidu directed to take up repair works in girls’ hostels immediately. He also ordered immediate completion of diet charges, cosmetic charges, tutor fees, and minor hostel repairs. “To strengthen 13 BC study circles, the govt sanctioned Rs 10 crore to provide free training to 5,720 DSC candidates. Online classes will be launched soon. The govt has also started a study circle to train 100 candidates annually for civil services,” Naidu said, adding that five acres of land would be allocated within the CRDA area for constructing a civil service coaching centre. The DPR for the building is ready, with plans to train 500 candidates.
Officials informed the CM that dues of Rs 81.65 crore is owed to BC students who studied abroad between 2014-19, which the previous govt did not clear. In 2016-17, the then TDP govt sanctioned the construction of 13 BC buildings in joint districts. Three buildings are under construction. Each building is expected to cost Rs 5 crore, but due to increased costs, BC leaders requested Rs 10 crore. Naidu directed officials to take all necessary measures to complete the construction of these buildings.
He further directed officials to prepare an action plan for loan approvals to eligible BC entrepreneurs. The govt allocated Rs 896.79 crore in the budget for creation of employment opportunities. Taking note of several complaints over ineligible persons getting disabled pensions, Naidu called for a comprehensive pension verification programme to remove ineligible individuals. Asking officials to be careful while removing pensions, he said the intent of the review is not to remove pensions but to weed out ineligible pensioners only. He suggested visiting the homes of 24,000 people receiving Rs 15,000 pensions to ensure they are not ineligible persons. Officials were asked to initiate criminal proceedings against those responsible for issuing false certificates.
