Hyderabad: Deputy chief mnister Bhatti Vikramarka on Friday directed welfare department officials to roll out self-employment schemes for SC and ST youth, with a target budget of Rs 3,000 crore in two months.
He criticised the previous BRS govt for neglecting these self-employment schemes during its decade in power, stressing the importance of getting major employment and livelihood programs up and running. “The Congress govt is committed to the welfare agenda and will ensure the release of necessary funds for these initiatives,” he said during a pre-budget review meeting with officials from the SC, ST, BC, and minority welfare departments at the state secretariat.
Bhatti emphasised the timely payment of rents and diet charges for welfare hostels and residential schools, urging department officials to ensure bills are processed and sanctioned promptly. He also recommended closer coordination with field-level officials, ministers, and MLAs to ensure regular visits to welfare hostels and schools. These visits should be planned in advance and communicated to the people’s representatives, he added.
He directed officials to intensify efforts to secure funds due to SC and ST departments from various sources and submit utilisation certificates for central govt schemes regularly to expedite funding.
On the Forest Rights Act, the deputy CM mentioned the distribution of land to tribals, especially in areas like Adilabad and Bhadrachalam, and encouraged joint efforts between various departments to increase forest lands under cultivation using solar power, focusing on crops like avocado and bamboo over the next two years.
He also instructed the repair of defunct lift irrigation projects in SC and ST habitations to further enhance the income of these communities.
