192 crore to be disbursed

Eluru: Minister for Backward Classes Welfare and Excise Kollu Ravindra said that under the Chandranna Swayam Upadhi (self-employment) programme, Rs 192 crore will be distributed as loans in a phased manner through the Kapu Corporation in the State. Addressing a press conference along with Kapu Corporation Chairman Chalamalasetty Ramanujaya here at Zilla Parishad Guest House, the minister said on Wednesday morning that the Chief Minister will reach Eluru and participate in the Runa Mela to Kapu, Balija, Telaga Ontari castes Runa Mela under Chandranna self-employment scheme.

In the first phase, the Chief Minister will disburse Rs 96 crore of loans to 25,000 beneficiaries, he added. He said that the Kapu Corporation received 3,26,820 applications for sanctioning loans from the Kapu community. He said the Corporation will impart training and conduct the workshop to the beneficiaries in tailoring and other fields to make them financially independent. Referring to the reservations issue, the minister said that the Chief Minister appointed the Manjunathan Committee on this issue, which will submit its report soon.

He said the government will take necessary steps to extend reservation facility to Kapus, after receiving the report, without disturbing the present Backward Classes reservations. Replying to a question, the minister said that before the inclusion or exclusion of any caste from the list it should be decided basing only on the report. He criticised that in earlier cases, the cases were defeated as decisions were made without an appointing committee.

He clarified that the Janmabhoomi committees appointed in village level will select the beneficiaries and will get the loans based on the eligible selections. Eluru MLA Badeti Kota Ramarao, BC Welfare Department director Harshavardhan and others participated in the conference.