15 BC organisations are opposing the move, arguing that Hijras are not a caste.
R. Krishnaiah, BC leader and LB nagar TD MLA
Hyderabad: The Telangana state government’s decision to include Hijras under the Backward Classes category has sparked off a controversy.
Over 15 BC organisations have joined hands to oppose the move, arguing that the government’s move was an attack on their self-respect and self-esteem. They have threatened to launch an agitation if the government does not abandon the move.
BC organisations stated that they were not opposed to reservations for Hijras but want the government to provide them reservations under any other special category and not under BC. These organisations point out that the BC list is based on caste and not on gender.
“On what basis will the government include Hijras in the BCs list? Hijra is not a caste. What reservation benefits will the Hijras get if they are included among the BCs? They are anyway ineligible for reservations in education and jobs, since it is known if they are Hijras or not only after 20 years of age. By that time, they will have completed their graduation,” said R. Krishnaiah, BC leader and LB Nagar Telugu Desam MLA.
He alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was deliberately trying to insult BCs by including Hijras in the BCs list.
“By doing so, if KCR thinks that BCs are Hijras, he is totally wrong. BCs are not Hijras but heroes, who know how to wage a battle against the government which insults their community. We cannot compromise with our self-respect and self-esteem,” he said.
BC organisations pointed out that if the government was really sincere about helping Hijras, they should include them in the OC category and provide them reservations in his party and in his cabinet.
“Why should Hijras be included only in the BCs list? Why not in the OCs list or other castes when Hijra is not a caste at all. This shows the CM’s discrimination towards BCs, which he already exposed before the people by not giving adequate representation to BCs in party tickets, Cabinet or nominated posts,” Mr Krishnaiah said.
Asked if it would not be an “insult” to OCs if Hijras were included in the list, Mr Krishnaiah said it was not his intention to “insult OCs but only to make a point that the TRS government was giving all important posts in state only to OCs and if Hijras are included in OCs list they would benefit while they would be getting nothing by their inclusion in the BCs list.”
Denying the allegations, BC welfare minister Jogu Ramanna stated, “We are not the first one to do this in the country. Tamil Nadu and Bihar have recognised Hijras as BCs. This is being done to set up a welfare board for Hijras to give them financial and social assistance and to extend welfare schemes of the government. Inclusion in the list does not mean only education and job reservations but also extending benefits of welfare schemes like houses, land, ration cards, interest free loans etc. I request BC unions not to blow this issue out of proportion.”
“About 97 per cent of Hijras are below the poverty line. Their main source of livelihood is begging. There is a need to include Hijras under BCs list and provide them reservations and social justice as per the SC order,” said Vyjayanti Vasantha Mogli, member of Telangana Hijra Samiti.
“We welcome the Telangana state government’s decision as six states are already implementing this. The opposition by some BC unions is totally uncalled for,” Vyjayanti said.
Not a single BC certificate issued to orphans so far
It’s been more than two months since the TS issued orders for inclusion of orphans in the Backward Classes category, but it has failed to issue a single BC certificate to orphans.
Applicants approaching revenue offices are being turned down on the grounds that the government has not issued any guidelines about who should be deemed as an orphan. The government issued orders on September 29 for including orphans under the BC-A category. It directed officials to list orphans at serial number 55 in the list of BCs.
Though the BC department implemented these orders accordingly, it failed to release the guidelines for the revenue department to follow while issuing these certificates. The government accorded the power to issue these certificates to tahsildars. However, they have been refusing to issue orphan certificates in the absence of clear-cut guidelines. There is no clarity at the government-level about who is an orphan.
The BC department has proposed to treat those persons as orphans who lost their parents 10 years ago or who have no parents/guardians or those admitted in government recognised orphanages or orphan schools. However, the guidelines to this effect are yet to be finalised and sent to the revenue department for issuance of certificates. These certificates will entail orphans to claim BC-A reservations in government employment and for admissions in educational institutions. With the delay in issuing these certificates, orphans are losing out on job notifications issued by the TSPSC and other recruitment agencies, besides seats in colleges and universities.
BC welfare minister Jogu Ramanna said the delay was on account of confusion over norms to determine orphans. “We have recently sent officials to TN to study the issue. Officials have come up with certain guidelines, which have been referred to the government for approval. The issuance of certificates will begin very soon,” he said.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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