Steps for promoting SC/ST civil contractors' welfare: Minister

The Telangana government is taking concrete steps, including offering training to SC, ST civil contractors,towards promoting their welfare, Telangana minister KT Rama Rao said today.

The state government offered training to 80 contractors and 60 of them are already working on contracts, the minister for IT and Municipal Administration said.

Rao was speaking at an event organised by theDalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) and others on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

The state government has obtained 'mini (sewer) jetting machines' in Hyderabad to put an end to manual cleaning and to promote Dalits in the sector as industrialists, he said.

The government would take a decision in a fortnight on the request made to set up a 'business facilitation cell', he said.

The state government is trying to revive companies in a poor shape before they become fully sick through 'industrial health clinics', Rao said.

Highlighting the importance of education, he said the government is spending substantial funds on providing education to those belonging to backward sections through the overseas scholarship scheme and residential educational institutions.

The Telangana agitation was conducted as per Ambedkar's principles of organising and educating people, Rao said.

On the occasion, he presented awards to entrepreneurs in manufacturing and other categories.