Discussion on SC, ST plan funds sought

HYDERABAD: Several Dalit organisations urged Assembly Speaker N Manohar to allocate two days for meaningful discussion on SC and ST sub-plan funds in the budget session which is starting from Monday. A delegation of Dalit organisations comprising M Anjaneyulu, John Wesley and Sujata met the speaker on Sunday and submitted a memorandum to this effect.The delegation in a single page memorandum said that the SC and ST sub-plan funds scheme was introduced by former prime minister late Indira Gandhi for social and economical development of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes.The delegation also recalled that the Planning Commission had issued detailed guidelines to all states mentioning importance of the special component plan.The memorandum said so far an amount of Rs 17,000 crore from the SCSP and Rs 5,000 crore from STSP have been diverted to other sectors.