Amaravati

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday directed officials to expedite the investigation of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases to ensure punishment to the guilty at the earliest.

The chief minister made it clear that the system should function in a manner that prevents misuse of law while ensuring that those who commit offences are duly punished, said an official press release.

"Expedite the investigation of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases to ensure punishment to the guilty at the earliest," it said, quoting the CM.

A state-level high-power committee on the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the welfare of these communities was held at the chief minister's camp office.

Naidu called for a special study into the relatively high number of atrocity cases against SCs and STs reported in Guntur, Anantapur, East Godavari and Prakasam districts.

He directed officials to examine not only the number of cases but also their nature, the reasons behind them and the time taken for their disposal.

Naidu called for measures to ensure speedy resolution of these cases.

The CM expressed dissatisfaction over 131 district-level meetings that are still pending.

He directed officials to understand the problems faced by SCs and STs at the grassroots level and take appropriate measures for their resolution.

As two and a half decades have passed since the Justice Punnayya Commission submitted its report, the chief minister ordered a comprehensive study of the conditions prevailing at that time and the changes that have taken place since then, said the press release.

He stressed that all departments should work in coordination to ensure not only the economic empowerment of SCs and STs but also to build their confidence.

The CM called for efforts to achieve inclusive growth with the participation of all sections of the society.

Naidu stressed the need to give special attention to the education of students from SC and ST communities and prepare them to compete for admissions in prestigious institutions such as IITs and IIMs.

The chief minister criticised certain political parties for allegedly creating controversies over positive initiatives, claiming that they were doing so with the intention of preventing SC and ST students from pursuing education and progressing in life.

Naidu said the government is spending substantial amounts of money for the development of Dalits.

He said effective utilisation of programmes for their welfare could further improve the living standards of SCs and called upon public representatives to give special attention to the advancement of SCs and STs.

Naidu directed the SC/ST finance corporations to undertake large-scale employment generation programmes.

Further, he instructed that opportunities should be fully utilised to increase the incomes of tribal communities in agency areas through commercial crops such as coffee and forest produce.

The CM directed officials to implement Net Zero policy in SC and ST student hostels and stressed that alongside education, special attention should be paid to students' health and infrastructure.

READ MORE:Kashmir's Urfana Amin can make children learn math with a piece of cardboard

He said the government would focus on developing skills among SC and ST youth so that they could secure employment opportunities locally as well as abroad.

The chief minister alleged that the previous government had weakened the SC and ST corporations and that the coalition government had revived them after assuming office.