Kapu community to be included in backward category: Andhra Pradesh government

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh government on Monday announced inclusion of Kapu community under Backward Classes (BC) category and setting up of a panel to study the proportion of reservation to be granted to them.

However, the inclusion of Kapus will not effect proportion of reservation provided to other communities under the category, state Finance Minister Yanamala Rama Krishunudu told reporters after emerging from a Cabinet meeting held under Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

"Fulfilling the TDP's electoral promise, the government has decided to bring Kapu community under BC category. The government has also decided to constitute a commission to study the issue of reservations to be provided for the community," he said.

The panel will submit its report within nine months, based on whose recommendations the government will decide the proportion of reservation for the community, he added.

"Though the government has decided to include Kapus under BC category, the proportion of reservation in place for other classes under the category will not get affected. Kapus will not get reservation from the quota being provided to BCS (a sub-group under BC category)," the minister said.

He said the government will also set up Kapu Financial Corporation, with a corpus of Rs 100 crore, to provide financial assistance to community members for their self employment.

Kapu community mainly concentrated in the coastal districts, North Telangana and Rayalaseema regions, currently and falls under Other Caste (OC) category.

Among other decisions taken in the meeting, the government has decided to constitute Andrha Pradesh Maritime Board to promote and regulate minor ports in the state.

"Since Andhra Pradesh has a vast coastal line, it has an opportunity to develop new ports and port-related activity.

A new body in name of 'AP Maritime Board' will be set up to look after construction of new ports and to monitor operations of the existing ports," the minister said, adding that a bill in this regard will be introduced in forthcoming session of the Legislative Assembly.

The government also announced construction of a total of six lakh farm ponds at an estimated cost of Rs 2,000 crore to mitigate drought conditions.

The minister said each pond would be constructed on area of 10 acres.

The funds from departments of agriculture, irrigation and under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment would be pooled in to take up the construction work.