VISAKHAPATNAM: Expressing a strong resolve to reform the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Co-operative Finance Corporation, its Chairman, R.D. Wilson, has said that the focus will be more on land purchase and development, training for employment and loans for those pursuing professional courses.

At a press conference here on Monday, he said that during the Dalit Chaitanya Yatras he had participated in from February 11 to March 13, he found that 80 per cent of dalits had no full understanding about the existence of the corporation. He lamented that the prevailing view was that it was corrupt and middlemen were ruling the roost. During its nine-year-rule the Telugu Desam Party had neglected the corporation and brought down the allocations from Rs. 500 crores to Rs. 210 crores, he alleged.

On the development programmes, Mr. Wilson said that he had met the Union Minister, Meira Kumar, and sought Rs. 40 crores more for land purchase schemes in addition to the Rs. 1 crore being spent in each district now. Similarly, he had urged the State Government to sanction an additional Rs. 20 crores for land purchase. The corporation would spend more money and strive to give good, arable land to the beneficiaries.

He said that under `Indiraprabha' too, money was not being allocated for lands of SC Corporation and the Rural Development Commissioner had sought an allocation of Rs. 100 crores for the purpose.

Education loans

Mr. Wilson disclosed that on the lines of the BC Corporation, the SC Corporation would also extend loans of Rs. 3 lakhs for students of medicine, Rs. 2 lakhs for engineering and Rs.1 lakh for MCA and MBA students. He asserted that the loans were being extended only to the poor.

The stipendiary training for employment in garment-making, printing and dyeing etc., would be assigned to organisations which ensured placement. About Rs. 50 lakhs is being spent in each district on the training.

Regretting that the jogin practice was continuing in several parts of the State, Mr. Wilson said that to prevent their children from falling prey to flesh trade or becoming anti-social elements, special schools would be opened for them through NGOs.

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