The Chairman who is on a visit to the State today called on the Chief Minister Dr.K.Rosaiah at Secretariat.

During his brief interaction with the Chief Minister, the Chairman said that the welfare programs of SCs are quite impressive.  “I will not hesitate to state that AP is a role model for the rest of the country in the successful implementation of several schemes meant for SCs”, he said.  The initiatives of the State Government in the field of education, integrated hostels for girls and online disbursement of scholarship are quite good, he said.  He lauded the Chief Minister for conducting Dalit awareness campaigns in the State during the period from 5th to 14th April like nowhere else in the country.

The Chief Minister told the Chairman about the implementation of SC and ST Component Plan in the State and the steps taken on the atrocities on SCs & STs in the State.  He said Post Matric Scholarships budget has increased ten fold from Rs.308 crore in 2003-04 to Rs.3,000 crore in 2010-11. He said that the Government is constructing integrated welfare hostels to provide better amenities in a big way and 400 new college hostels opened in 2009-10. He also said that meritorious students from weaker sections being admitted in reputed private junior colleges – 26 admitted in IITs and 2,000 admitted in AIEEE. The Chief Minister assured the Chairman of National SC Commission that the Government will take care of all the observations of the Commission.

The Chief Minister said he will be holding a video conference with District Collectors on 23rd of this month on various issues including initiatives taken up by the Government for the welfare of SCs and STs as well as to discuss the implementation of Special Component Plan for SCs & STs at the field level.