AMARAVATI, DEC 17
The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday passed two Bills that enable setting up of separate Commissions for Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes.
The Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Schedule Tribes Bill, tabled by Minister for Tribal Welfare Pushpa Srivani, would provide for setting up of separate Commissions to safeguard the interests of Scheduled Tribes.
The Bill was necessitated after the State has decided to bifurcate the existing Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in to two separate Commissions.
The Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Castes Bill, tabled by Social Welfare Minister P Viswarup, would enable the setting up of a separate Commission to safeguard the interests of Scheduled Castes.
V Kalavathi, K Bhagya Lakshmi, N Dhanalakhsmi , Golla Babu Rao, Merugu Nagarjuna (YSRCP) were among those who spoke lauding the policies of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
The Bills were passed by voice vote.
YSRCP government for weaker sections
Intervening during the discussion of the two bills, the Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy reiterated that the State Government remains committed for the welfare of SCs and STs and said the previous TDP leaders have neglected the weaker sections and they have a history of demeaning Dalits.
The Chief Minister said that Chandrababu Naidu has the dubious distinction of passing derogatory remarks against Dalits. “No one will be willing to be born in a Dalit family, was the remarks passed by Chandrababu. He did not give one cabinet post to the marginalised sections and they have rightly shown him his due place.”
Even in the capital area region, Chandrababu Naidu government has shown discrimination in allotment of residential and commercial space. While the extent of land given as compensation to the farmers for giving their land to CRDA was more, it was reduced for assigned lands which belong to SCs and STs, he said.
The National Commission for SCs and STs was bifurcated by the Centre long back but Chandrababu did not bother to do it in Andhra Pradesh during the past five years. Only before elections he took up the issue with an eye on votes and people have realised his ploy and gave the mandate, he said.
While the state assembly has 29 seats for SCs and 7 seats for STs, TDP could win only one seat which shows the anger of the marginalised sections against Chandrababu Naidu, he said. Quoting renowned writer and reformist Gurazada Appa Rao, (manchi annadi Mala ayithe, aa mala nenautha – if goodness is Mala (SCs), I will be a Mala), he said.
In the six months after we took over, while we have provided reservations in all fields and the composition of our cabinet has 60% of people belonging to SC, ST, BC and Minorities. We have also brought in a regulation reserving 50% for these sections along with women in all nominated posts and in contract works, he said adding that Chandrababu Naidu had no representation of SCs, STs in his cabinet.
Not just that, we have also provided reservation in the posts of Chairpersons for Market Yards and in the recently concluded Village Secretariat exams, 82.5% of those who cleared the exams are from the weaker sections, the Chief Ministers said.
