Hyderabad: Various Backward Classes have opposed the orders issued by Telangana state government asking the BC Commission to conduct a fresh socioeconomic and educational survey to enhance reservations for BCs.
They said the TS government had already gathered socioeconomic data of BCs during intensive household survey held in 2014 and there was no need for another survey by BC Commission.
They expressed concern that any fresh survey would only create friction between the existing BC categories, who may demand additions and deletions of existing castes from existing A, B, C,D categories.
“The IHS was carried out by the TS government itself and not by any private agency. IHS findings can be referred to BC Commission, which can go through the details and make recommendations on the quantum of quota hike. Ordering a fresh survey and giving six time to the BC panel to submit the report will only delay matters unnecessarily. Moreover, the public hearings proposed by the BC panel in all districts would only create frictions between existing BC categories,” said R. Krishnaiah, president, All India BC Welfare Association.
The association, which represents 112 BC castes, held a meeting on Sunday in the wake of the TS government issuing orders on Saturday setting the terms of reference for the BC Commission to take up a fresh survey on socioeconomic and educational backwardness of BCs.
At present, BCs, categorised in four groups (A, B, C, D) get 25 per cent quota in education and employment, which the government wants to increase based on the panel’s recommendations.
BC associations claim that their population comprises 52 per cent of the state’s population and demand 52 per cent quota, proportionate to their population. They also demand creation of more BC groups in addition to existing four instead of creating a new group called Most Backward Classes.
The TS government also asked the commission to identify Most Backward Classes among BCs and recommend reservations for them.
