TDP urges govt to allocate more funds for poor

Hyderabad, Dec 26 (UNI) A five-member delegation, led by senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former Home Minister T Devender Goud, today met state Finance Minister K Rosaiah and urged him to allocate sufficient funds for the welfare of BC, SC, ST and Minority communities in 2008-09 budget.

Speaking to newspersons here after meeting the Minister in his chambers in the Secretariat here, Mr Goud alleged that the government had been making promises during the Assembly sessions that it would increase budget for the welfare of weaker sections, but it had not increased the allocations in the last three years.

Demanding that the government must also increase the mess charges for students studying in government colleges and universities, he alleged that the government did not release the loan amount to the beneficiaries selected under various development programmes.

Meanwhile, Mr Rosaiah said the government was allocating sufficient funds for the welfare of the poor and the 2008-09 budget would give priority to the welfare of all backward communities.

He said Rs 2 per kg rice scheme, ''Rajiv Arogya Sri'' and other welfare programmes will be given priority in the next budget.

UNI