KCR draws new schemes to help poor among Forward Communities

Hyderabad: A slew of new welfare schemes to benefit the BPL families among the forward communities is on the cards in Telangana. After resolving the plight of farmers, SC, ST, BC and minority communities through various programmes, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao intends to address the plight of the poor among Reddy, Kamma, Vysya, Kshatriya and Velama castes soon.  

In the wake of a series of representations made by Reddy and Vysya communities seeking remedy for the problems being faced by the poor in these caste groups, the Chief Minister has begun the exercise to formulate new schemes. Extension of reservations in education and jobs, establishment of residential educational institutions on the lines of those provided for other communities and self-employment schemes will be among the schemes to be introduced soon for them.

“KCR is firm on extending all government benefits availed by SC, ST, BC and minority communities to the poor in the forward castes too, aiming to bring a social and economic balance in the state,” a top official said and added that the planning and other departments concerned have already been instructed to compile the data pertaining to the total number of the poor families among the forward castes.

KCR is already analysing the available data with regard to the socio-economic condition of the particular communities. 

The proposal to establish separate corporations for Reddy, Kamma, Vysya and Velamas like those already set up for minority, MBC (Most Backward Classes), BC and SCs is under consideration to provide financial assistance for the upliftment of the poorer sections in the forward communities.

Since majority poorer sections are living in villages, the government is planning to introduce the schemes by involving rural development, agriculture and women welfare departments.     

The Chief Minister has already announced in the 2018-19 budget that his government is determined to empower the poor in the forward castes through special provisions, the officials recall, contending that KCR is planning to hold a meeting with the recognised community leaders in July and finalise the schemes to be introduced in August. The CM is likely to make the announcements in his speech on August 15 on the occasion of the Independence Day.