TDP committed to BC welfare: Ravindra

Guntur: Minister for BC Welfare, Handlooms and Excise Kollu Ravindra said the government was committed to work for the empowerment of the backward classes in the state and realisation of the dreams and aspirations of Jyotirao Phule. Participating in the 189th birth anniversary celebartions of Phule at the Revenue Kalyanamandapam here on Saturday, Ravindra stated that Telugu Desam government is the first in the country to unveil BC sub-plan worth Rs 6,640 crores on the lines of SC, ST sub-plans fixing norms for spending on prescribed heads giving no scope for diversion of funds.

He recalled the sacrifices made by Phule to improve the lot of the socially and economically backward classes irrespective of the caste tag. “Phule’s perception of life had been changed after he was insulted by Brahmin priests in a marriage of his Brahmin friend when he participated in the marriage procession along with the priestly class. He was degraded by the community and shamed for participation in the marriage ceremony as someone who hailed from a lower caste.

The bitter experience transformed his life and he decided to be an instrument for change and fight the evils of caste system,” said Ravindra. Thadikonda MLA Tenali Sravan Kumar said that the TD government is the only one which had been championing the cause of the BC rights from its inception. NTR was the first to create a separate ministry for the BC development and separate reservations for the community. He said that Phule was sincere to the core.

“He not only fought the caste system but also for women's education. His wife Savitri was educated by Phule and she was the first woman teacher in her days at a time when it was commonly believed that women need no education,” the MLA said. He hailed the release of Rs.220 crores by minister Ravindra for the various BC federations.

Guntur west constituency MLA Modugula Venugopala Reddy, who presided over the celebration, regretted that great people like Phule and Ambedkar who worked against casteism were being identified as leader and champion of certain castes. “By this, the very spirit of their struggle is being degraded into casteist movements,” he said Secretary to the ministry of BC Welfare Praveen Kumar and District Collector Kantilal Dande said that Phule's life had been highly inspiring.

He worked for an egalitarian society and fought against discrimination of people on the basis of caste, religion and colour.Several BC leaders spoke on the occasion hailing the TD's contribution to the upliftment of BCs. They also demanded a BC sub-plan at the national level as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailing from BC should take the lead. Vinukonda MLA G V Anjaneyulu and MLC A S Rama Krishna and BC women leader Pothula Sunitha were among those who spoke on the occasion.