Siddaramaiah in Kamareddy: Congress vows Rs 20,000 cr for BC welfare, increased political quota in local bodies

Kamareddy: The Telangana Congress released the ‘Kamareddy BC Declaration’ in the presence of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in Kamareddy on Friday.

Siddaramaiah on Friday arrived at Kamareddy to campaign in support of Revanth Reddy. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and Kodangal MLA candidate A Revanth Reddy filed his nomination in Kamareddy on Friday. He had earlier filed his second nomination in Kodangal.

Revanth Reddy will be fielding against BRS supremo and chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao in the Kamareddy Assembly seat.

Congress lists plans to support BC communities

In the declaration, Congress makes a slew of promises for the Backward Classes (BC). Among the many points in the declaration, the party promises to increase the BC reservation based on the caste census it will conduct and the BC commission report within six months of assuming power.

The party also pledged to increase BC reservations from the current 23 per cent to 42 per cent in local bodies and provide Rs 20,000 crores per year for BC welfare.

The Telangana Congress also made specific promises for the dominant BC communities such as Mudiraj, Yadava/Kuruma, Goud, Munnur Kapu, Padmashali, Vishwakarma and Rajaka.

Here is a detailed break-up of the Kamareddy BC Declaration of the Congress.

Reservations

1. BC reservations will be increased based on the caste census and BC commission report within six months of assuming power.

2. Increase BC reservations to 42 per cent from the existing 23 per cent in local bodies to provide 23,973 new political leadership positions for BCs in panchayats and municipalities. Provide sub-categorisation in BC reservations in local bodies.

3. As much as 42 per cent reservation for BCs in government civil construction and maintenance contracts.

Budget allocations

1. Mahatma Jyotirao Phule BC sub-plan to be given statutory status and adequate funds in the first Telangana Assembly session after the elections.

2. An allocation of Rs 20,000 crores per year amounting to Rs 1 lakh crores in five years set aside for BC welfare.

Representation in welfare

1. Separate Most Backward Classes (MBC) welfare ministry will be created to oversee the development of MBC castes.

2. Corporations will be established for all the BC castes for their overall development. BC youth can avail of interest-free loans and collateral-free loans up to 10 lakhs to establish small businesses and attain higher education.

3. As much as Rs 50 crores will be budgeted for the construction of Professor Jayashankar BC Aikyatha Bhavans in all district headquarters with a convention hall, press club, study circle, library and canteen. The District BC welfare office will be located in the BC Aikyatha Bhavans.

Education

1. One new Gurukulam in every mandal will be set up for BCs on par with Navodaya Vidyalayas and one new degree college in each district.

2. Full fee reimbursement irrespective of rank for BC students with annual income below Rs 3 lakhs.

Artisanal communities

1. A shopping complex with 50 shops will be constructed in each mandal as Vruthi Bazaars, to provide free shop space for artisanal communities such as barbers, carpenters, washermen, blacksmiths and goldsmiths

2. Reduction in the old age pension eligibility age for all communities engaged in artisanal occupations from the current 57 to 50 years. Currently, the eligibility age is 50 only for toddy tappers and weavers.

3. Provide financial assistance of Rs 10 lakhs to each society registered under BC corporations and federations.

What are the community-specific promises?

Mudiraj

- Restore GO dated February 19, 2009, to move Mudiraj, Mutrasi and Tenugollu communities from BC-D to BC-A.

Gangaputa

- Establish Telangana Fisheries Development Board with powers to resolve pending issues on fishing rights amongst fisherman communities, and to take up fisheries development activities, such as promotion of aquaculture captive seed nurseries and marketing infrastructure.

Yadav and Kuruma

- Take up the second phase of the sheep distribution scheme within 100 days of assuming power.

Goud

- Allocate five acres of land in each village for the cultivation of palm trees, provide 90 per cent subsidy in providing saplings of palm trees, drip irrigation and in construction of the compound.

- Increase reservations for Gouds in liquor shop licences from the existing 15 per cent to 25 per cent.

- Rename Jangaon district as Sardar Sarvai Papanna Goud Jangaon district.

Munnuru Kapu

- Establish the Telangana Munnuru Kapu corporation to provide subsidised loans for the youth to encourage entrepreneurship.

Padmashali

- Will set up mega powerloom clusters in Jagityal, Narayanpet and Bhongir.

- As much as 90 per cent subsidy on power looms and accessories for Padmashalis.

Vishwakarma

- Provide tool kits for barbers, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, carpenters and potters at a 90 per cent subsidy.

- Assign land in urban areas to set up shops.

Rajaka

- Provide a subsidy of Rs 10 lakhs towards the establishment of laundromats for Rajaka youth in the cities.

- Modernise dhobi ghats across the state with an expenditure outlay of Rs 10 crores per district.