Cong committed to welfare of weaker sections: Ram Babu

Hyderabad, Mar 5 (UNI) The Congress is committed to the welfare of weaker sections, including Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Minorities, Congress Legislator Ram Babu said today.

Participating in the debate on the demand for grants for social welfare, Mr Babu contended that the TDP, which had allegedly diverted funds earmarked for social welfare, had no moral right to speak against the government, which had significantly hiked the budgetary allocation for the sector.

The Rajasekhara Reddy Government had earmarked Rs 4537 crore for their welfare as against Rs 1595 crore allocated by the earlier TDP regime during 2002-03.

"When the TDP was in power it did not spend the funds earmarked for the welfare of the SCs, STs, OBCs and Minorities, '' he contended, adding, ''the opposition party is now shedding crocodile tears for these sections.'' The government launched programmes to ensure 100 per cent electrification of all Dalit and Girijan hamlets and construct a large number of check dams to water the fields of small and marginal tribal farmers, he added.

UNI