In a bid to win back the Scheduled Caste leaders who are leaving the Congress fold and joining hands with Jaganmohan Reddys YSR Congress,chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has discreetly sanctioned a whopping Rs 500 crore to be spent under the newly-enacted SC/ST sub-plan.And to convey the message that he means business,the chief minister has directed the authorities to ensure that the entire amount is utilized for the welfare of SC/STs within 20 days.

The release of Rs 500 crore under the SC/ST subplan was cleared by the cabinet sub-committee on Friday and the finance department has been asked to release the funds on a priority basis.The release of funds is to take place during Kiran Kumar Reddys pet programme Praja Patham to be held between February 15 and March 5.

According to sources,since the works have to be sanctioned on a priority basis,it will be awarded to contractors on a nomination basis.The works,related to drinking water, sanitation, electricity, housing, Anganwadi,women and child nutrition,repair of residential hostels and general improvement of existing structures,will be taken up in the assembly constituencies where the SC,ST population is around 40% of the total population.

The CMs aides claimed that the SC leaders who left the party anticipating a bright political future elsewhere would be lured with these works.We are looking at repeating the success achieved in the agriculture cooperative socities elections.If the funds released under the SC/ST sub-plan are used strategically,the return of SC leaders to the Congress party is certain, said a CM-loyalist MLA.

As of now MLAs from 9 districts where the Praja Patham is being organised are being asked to take up the works under the SC/ST sub-plan.As soon as the election code is lifted,the legislators in the remaining 14 districts will be given the funds, said a CMO official.