Reduction in funds for BC welfare denounced

Vidyanagar: A meeting of 14 BC association held here at BC Bhavan has condemned reduced fund allocation to BC welfare from Rs 5000 crore to Rs 2,900 crore in the state budget presented on Monday.

Speaking to media after the meeting, R Krishnaiah criticised the state government for reducing allocation for BC welfare on the pretext of impending recession. Dismissing the claims of recession, he said that state revenues in fact witnessed rise. He said there was 20 per cent hike in GST tax revenue, 30 per cent hike in excise tax revenue and 60 per cent hike in revenue stamps and registrations collections.

The state revenues increased compared to that in the previous year. Central grants to the state have also increased this year, he said. He alleged that that decreased allocation to BCs was the state conspiracy to suppress downtrodden sections of the society. "It is unfortunate that only 2 per cent of funds of total budget for BC welfare though BCs with their population of more than 50 per cent of state population deserve more funds," he said.

Lakhs of BCs who have applied for subsidy loans have been anticipating hike in budget allocation as about 5.7 lakh applications were lying pending since last year, he said. Expressing his dissatisfaction over the recent cabinet allocations, he said severe injustice was done to BCs as only four berths were given to BCs while they deserve 10 berths based on their population. He urged BC leaders in TRS party to bring to the notice of the party leaders, injustice being done to BCs. He warned of intense agitation if justice not done to BC community.

BC leaders Gujja Krishna, Erram Satyanarayana, Neela Venkatesh, Narsimha Goud, Jillapalli Anji, Mallesh Yadav, Barka Krishna, Chander, Upender Goud, Rajender, Venkanna, Nataraju and representatives of various BC associations participated in the meeting.