Fund allocation inadequate: SC, ST Commission Director

Guntur, May 10 (UNI) The SC, ST Commission Director V Eleesha today pointed out that the fund allocations for the welfare of Scheduled Caste (SCs) in the 2007-08 Andhra Pradesh State Budget was only 12.5 per cent while the SCs account for 23 per cent of the population of the state.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy promised to take remedial steps when the National ST, SC Commission drew his attention to the inadquacy.

Revealing this to reporters here today, Ms Eleesha said the Commission's aim is to promote the welfare of SCs and STs and ensure that the benefits reached them. The Commission would also monitor the implementation of the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the protection of the Civil Rights Act.

Mr Eleesha who is in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chattishgarh, disclosed that about 600 cases of false caste certificates were registered in Andhra Pradesh.

UNI