Focus on solving problems faced by SC/ST communities, officials told

District Collector Sumit Kumar on Saturday (March 7) directed officials to address the problems faced by SC and ST communities with utmost importance and ensure timely solutions.

He was addressing the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (DVMC) meeting held at the Collectorate here to review the implementation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Chittoor MP D. Prasada Rao, Superintendent of Police Tushar Dudi, and senior officials from various government departments were present. Mr. Sumit Kumar said review meetings would be conducted once every three months and directed all departments to attend with detailed reports on the issues raised and the action taken.

The Committee members raised several concerns related to SC and ST welfare, including the need to organise medical camps in tribal colonies, ensure Aadhaar enrolment for all tribals, provide more loans to SC/ST beneficiaries through corporations and improve infrastructure in welfare hostels and residential schools. They further sought information on truck allotments to SC communities in LPG bottling plants and demanded housing facilities, employment support for unemployed youth preparing for competitive examinations and improved amenities in tribal schools.

The Collector said that compensation amounting to about ₹62 lakh was pending for victims in the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases registered between September 1, 2025 and March 5, 2026, and proposals have already been sent to the government.

He also announced approval for a monthly honorarium of ₹10,000 for DVMC members from April 1.