Marginalised BCs in Telangana to reap benefits

Hyderabad: The Centre’s plan to create “sub-quotas” within OBCs for reservations in education and employment is all set to redefine reservations in the Telugu states. In TS and AP, OBCs are now being referred as BCs.

The studies done by various committees and commissions found that ever since the Mandal Commission’s 27 per cent quota came into force in the 1990s, only 19 BC castes in TS and 28 in AP, who were relatively better-off financially than the other BC castes, had gained majorly.

There are 238 BC castes listed in the two Telugu states (113 in TS and 125 in AP). But though a large number are listed as BC, they were not able to find place in Centre’s OBC list. Therefore, these BC castes were denied of all quota benefits. Now, with the Centre’s proposal to set up a panel for facilitating sub-categorisation, these marginalised castes are now hopeful for getting benefits that were long denied.

BC welfare minister Jogu Ramanna said, “Telangana state has notified 113 castes under BC category. But the Centre has approved only 90 of them. Even in AP, 125 castes were notified under BC of which the Centre recognised only 112. The exercise to create sub-quotas within BCs will enable all the deprived sections to avail reservation benefit. The Centre’s panel is expected to consult all state governments on this issue. The TS government has decided to submit fresh proposals to the Centre’s panel to recognise all the castes notified under BC category.” A deadline of 12 weeks has been given to the panel to submit its report.

TS had asked BC panel to study quota hike
At the state level, the TS government, which had already decided to enhance reservations for BCs had asked the State BC Commission in April this year to study the social, educational and economic backwardness of BCs and make recommendations on the reservation hike.

State BC Commission chairman B.S. Ramulu said they will submit the report in six months. There is 29 per cent quota for BCs in TS and AP, of which 4 per cent is given to Muslims under (BC-E quota).