The plan is also to set up special courts for speedy disposal of such cases
VIJAYAWADA: Claiming that Andhra Pradesh would become the first state in the country to enact a dedicated BC Protection Law, the state government on Wednesday unveiled a draft legislation proposing stringent punishment for harassment or derogatory remarks against members of Backward Classes (BCs).
The reference is to actions/words linked to caste or traditional occupations. The plan is also to set up special courts for speedy disposal of such cases.
The announcement was made after a high-level consultation on the draft legislation chaired by BC welfare minister S Savitha here. The minister said the proposed legislation was part of the 3-party alliance government's election commitments and aimed at strengthening the social, political and economic security of BC communities.
Savitha said the draft bill would be revised by incorporating suggestions received from ministers, MLAs, MLCs and MPs. Similar consultations with BC organisations will soon be held at the district level before the final draft is submitted to the national commission for backward classes.
The bill would be introduced in the assembly after obtaining the commission's recommendations, following which the government will seek the Centre's support for its implementation.
Savitha said the proposed law would make harassment or abuse of BCs on the basis of caste or traditional occupations a punishable offence and provide special courts to ensure speedy trial.
Agriculture minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said deliberations on the legislation had been on for the past two years. He recalled that the proposal was promised by minister Nara Lokesh during his padayatra during which he interacted with BC communities.
He reiterated the state government’s plan to increase BC reservations in local bodies to 34 per cent through the recommendations of the Dedicated BC Commission headed by Rajiv Ranjan Mishra.
The consultation involved ministers Anagani Satyaprasad, Kolusu Parthasarathy, Kollu Ravindra and Kondapalli Srinivas besides law minister NMD Farooq; government whips Kalva Srinivasulu and Bommidi Nayakar; MLAs Gummanuru Jayaram, Galla Madhavi, Kagithapu Krishnaprasad, Pitani Satyanarayana, Gouthu Sirisha, Chadalawada Aravinda Babu, Kuna Ravi Kumar, Kandikunta Venkata Prasad, Boggu Ramanamurthy, Gondu Shankar and Mamidi Govinda Rao; MLCs Karri Padmasri, Gade Srinivasulu Naidu and Beeda Ravichandra Yadav; BC welfare secretary Satyanarayana, Director Mallikarjuna Rao, legal experts and senior officials.
