Cong refutes TDP allegation of neglect of welfare sector

Hyderabad, Dec 27 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) today refuted the allegations levelled by the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders that the state government had neglected the welfare sector.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters 'Gandhi Bhavan' here, Congress spokesperson N Tulasi Reddy said the state government had initiated several welfare schemes for the poor people during the last three-and-a-half years.

He said Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had given more priority to the welfare sector in the state as compared to other state's in the country.

The state government had spent Rs 3,295 crore for the welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and minority people and also for social security schemes during 2006-07 as against Rs 2,172 crore spent by the earlier TDP government in 2003-04.

Stating that the state government had earmarked a budgetary allocation of Rs 4,146 crore during the current financial year for the social welfare sector, he said it had also raised the Mess allocation of social welfare hostels in 2006.

UNI