The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : MLAs favour quota for BCs in legislature

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 15, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

MLAs favour quota for BCs in legislature

Special Correspondent

Reservations over GO seeking to delete creamy layer among BCs

HYDERABAD: Expressing concern over the raw deal meted out to Backward Classes by successive Governments, members of various parties on Wednesday favoured reservation for BCs in the legislature.

Continuing the debate on the welfare of BCs in the Assembly, they lamented that the parties had treated BCs as vote banks and had done little to uplift them.

They expressed reservations over the Government Order 23 seeking to delete the creamy layer among BCs, and demanded its withdrawal.

`Scrap GO 767'

Y. Ramakrishnudu (TDP) also demanded scrapping of GO 767 stating that it would sound the death knell for toddytappers. It had rendered hundreds of tappers jobless as the ban on toddy sale in the City for checking adulteration had affected their livelihood.

He flayed the Government for slashing the annual budget for BC welfare.

Taking a dig at the renaming of welfare schemes, Mr. Ramakrishnudu said the TDP Government had secured funds for the Velugu project, but the new regime changed its name without even getting additional finances.

Seeking to allay fears of the weaker sections over GO 23, K. Parthasarathi (Cong.) said the exercise was done in accordance with the Supreme Court directive to periodically review the status of Backward Classes.

He urged Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy to ensure that a resolution was adopted recommending reservations for BCs in the State legislature.

E. Rajender (TRS) echoed similar sentiments and said the BC Commission should be vested with statutory powers. He wanted the budget for BC Welfare enhanced.

N.Narasimhaiah (CPI-M) opposed GO 23 and demanded political reservations for BCs. The Government should issue identity cards for rural artisans and ensure that they secure bank loans.

A residential school for BC students should be started in each mandal, he said and demanded immediate release of BC scholarships.

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