The AP Asembly Estimates Committee has concluded that the words of the YSRCP government leaders, “My SC, My ST, My Minority”, have nothing to do with their performance. The committee has also concluded that the funds given by the central government under various schemes have also been diverted.
Moreover, expressed its displeasure that Rs. 352 crore was diverted for minority welfare in those three years, due to which no new shadikhanas, repairs of old ones, Eidgahs, or development of minority colonies were done anywhere in the state.
It has also revealed with budget figures that not a single rupee was spent specifically for the welfare of SC, ST, and minorities between 2019-22. It has also stated that the Amma Vodi scheme was also given only 3 times in five years, and that it was not given to all children. The committee met under the chairmanship of Estimates Committee Chairman Vegulla Jogeswara Rao.
It reviewed the budget allocated to the social, tribal and minority welfare departments between 2019-22, the funds received from the Center, and how they were spent. Officials said that due to the diversion of minority funds, another Rs. 1,000 crore was not received from the Center, and the Center is saying that it will provide those funds only if the state spends Rs. 350 crore.
The review concluded that although the Center was allocating funds under many schemes for SC, ST and minorities, the previous government did not provide matching grants for them. When the committee members asked why no bills were paid for meals served to children in social and tribal welfare hostels, the officials did not answer.
The committee noted that the Centre is providing Rs 20 lakh each for the development of villages with more than 40 percent SC and ST population under the Central Adarsh Gram Yojana, but the previous government did not receive funds from the Centre even though 1,027 villages in the state were selected for this purpose.
Committee members Bhuma Akhila Priya, Dr. Parthasarathy, Maddipati Venkataraju, Nimmaka Jaya Krishna, and Assembly Deputy Secretary Rajkumar were present in the meeting.