Date:25/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/25/stories/2006012507130400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Krishnasamy seeks separate budget for SC/STs

Special Correspondent

Says this will ensure that funds allotted for their welfare are utilised properly

CHENNAI: The Puthiya Thamizhagam on Tuesday called for a separate annual budget, such as the railway budget, for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes to ensure that the funds allotted for their welfare were utilised properly.

Party president K. Krishnasamy told presspersons here that out of the Central Government's total expenditure of Rs. 5,14,343 crore, only Rs. 6,253 crore was spent for the welfare of the SC/STs.

This constituted just 1.25 per cent of the total expenditure. Even this amount was not spent entirely by the States. Similarly, the special component plan of the Centre for SC/ST was only on paper. If there was a separate budget for them, the States would be committed to spending the allotted amount.

Dr. Krishnasamy urged Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to have a discussion with SC/ST associations on allotment of funds, like he was doing with traders and entrepreneurs, before the before the Union budget.

Asked to comment on the Tamil Nadu Government's move to take over cable TV network in the State, Dr. Krishnasamy said government take over of any industry was welcome.

Only after some time he could say whether it was done in the interest of the people or with a "motive."

He said the party general council would meet in Tiruchi on January 29 to decide the strategy for Assembly elections in the State.