Govt lifts income ceiling for 'Adi Dravidar'

Puducherry, Dec 5 (UNI) The Puducherry administration lifted the income ceiling for the members of the Adi Dravidar community here to avail several government welfare schemes, Chief Minister N Rangasamy said today.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Rangasamy said after his government came to power, the fund allocated under Special Component Plan (SCP) was being spent only for the welfare of the Schedule Caste (SC) as the government was committed to ensure their development.

He also said several schemes were being implemented by the government to uplift those below the poverty line.

In all 16.74 per cent of the 2007-08 annual plan allocation amounting to Rs 150 crore, excluding the tsunami fund and HUDCO assistance, had been earmarked for the development of SC people, of which 52 per cent had already been spent, he said.

There was a nodal officer to monitor the spending of the funds and a SC sub-plan committee headed by the Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister had been constituted on September 8 for the purpose.

The administration would also set up a high-level committee, comprising the leaders of different SC organisations to monitor the spending of the funds.

The supply of ten kg of free rice to red colour ration card holders was hindered for the last three months due to non-availability of paddy. The card holders would get 30 kg rice this month, which was meant for September, October and November. The rice for this month would be supplied next month, he said.

UNI