The government spent Rs.160 crore on the survey by appointing a supervisor for every 150 houses
Hyderabad: Minister for BC welfare and transport Ponnam Prabhakar told the BC intelligentsia and caste organisation members, whom he met that the caste survey was taken up in keeping with the promise made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He stated that their suggestions will be taken to the notice of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
BC caste organisations lauded the Telangana government for taking up the survey. The minister cleared the air on various issues raised by them in the presence of government adviser K. Kesava Rao. The meeting was held in the backdrop of doubts and objections that have been raised by BC leaders.
Addressing the leaders in the secretariat, the minister said, “The government bid to take up the survey was delayed owing to parliament elections for a few months. As the BC commission does not have the infrastructure and manpower to hold the survey, the work was given to the planning department. The household survey was done in a transparent manner to apportion the share of benefits as per population. Suggestions regarding political reservations, BC empowerment and implementation of BC declaration will be taken up so as to deliver social justice.”
The government spent Rs.160 crore on the survey by appointing a supervisor for every 150 houses.
Those who participated in the meeting included MP Suresh Shetkar, MLA Veerapalli Shankar, Congress leaders Madhu Yashki, Anjan Kumar Yadav, Niranjan, BC commission members Rayapolu Jayaprakash, Tirumalagiri Surender and BC leaders R. Krishnaiah, Vakula Bharanam Krishnamurthy and former IAS officer Chiranjeevulu, among others.
Leader of opposition in the council Madhusudhana Chary said they met the chief secretary and sought 42 percent reservation for BCs in the forthcoming local body elections. He reminded that 69 per cent quota is being implemented in Tamil Nadu.
“The government does not have sincerity on the survey. The exercise has to be taken up afresh,” he said.
Former minister Gangula Kamalakar said the Congress had forgotten the Kamareddy declaration and had cheated the BCs.
“We will not allow the party to forget the promise. The survey is an incomplete one. It has to be taken up again,” he stated.
