Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said the state government was totally committed to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Responding to an issue raised in the state Assembly, the chief minister said the government was making efforts to spend 16.23 per cent of the total budget for the welfare and uplift of SC and ST in the state.
"We spent nine per cent of the budget in 2009-10 and 12 per cent in 2010-11 on SC and ST through the sub-plans. We are making efforts to enhance it to 16.23 per cent," he said.
The SC and ST welfare issue was raised by CPI and CPM in the House through an adjournment on Tuesday, in the backdrop of an indefinite hunger-strike launched by CPM politburo member B.V. Raghavulu six days ago.
The left MLAs stalled the proceedings demanding an immediate statement from the chief minister on the issue. Officiating speaker Nadendla Manohar adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes and held a meeting with floor leaders of all parties to discuss the issue.
At the meeting, the parties wanted the chief minister to make an appeal to the fasting leader to end the fast and accordingly the House re-assembled.
Making the appeal, Kiran said most of the demands raised by the CPM politburo member were already being implemented while some other were under consideration.
"We shall soon appoint a chairman to the SC and ST Commission and also constitute the Women's Commission. As much as 25 lakh acres of land in the state will be developed at a total cost of Rs 9,000 crores under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme in the next three years," he said.