AP govt firm on Kapu quota

Aims to be the best destination in world by 2050: Guv

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan has said that the State Government was committed to provide reservations to the Kapu, Balija, Ontari and Telaga communities.

Addressing the joint session of AP Assembly and Council here on Saturday, the Governor laid special emphasis on this issue and said that efforts were on to provide reservations to these communities without hurting the interest of Backward Classes.

He said Justice Manjunath Commission, appointed for this purpose, is expected to submit report within eight months. This statement of the Governor assumes importance in the backdrop of the fresh threat by Kapu leader Mudragadda Padmanabham to go on fast from March 11.

Stating that Kapu Corporation had been set up to support income-generating activities for poor families among Kapu community, Governor Narasimhan said the government would allocate Rs 1,000 crore for the coming fiscal year for the welfare of Kapus.

"My government will recommend to Government of India, the demand of Rajaka community to be listed in the SCs and the demand of the Valmiki community to be included in the STs as these communities already enjoy similar status in certain other States," he said.

Referring to the case of 4% Muslim reservation in the Supreme Court, Narsimhan said, “My government is committed to the cause of Muslim reservation and the best legal luminaries are being engaged to defend the case in the apex court."

Referring to the Special Court Bill that was recently passed, Narsimhan said that his government was determined to control corruption at all levels. The Governor claimed that AP has achieved double digit growth in FY 2015-16.

As per the advanced estimates of 2015-16, the GSDP at constant (2011-12) market prices, registered a growth of 10.99% as against the corresponding national growth of 7.6%.

The agriculture sector could register 8.40% growth despite drought, with support from allied sectors, while the industry and service sectors achieved growth of 11.13 and 11.39 per cent respectively.

"It is heartening to note that the per capita income has reached Rs 1.07 lakh for the first time. My government is aiming to achieve 15% growth in the next fiscal year so as to place the state among the best in the country and live up to the unflinching trust and confidence reposed on the leadership by its people," he said.

"Sustaining double digit growth for the next 14 years is imperative to ensure that Andhra Pradesh stands tall among its peers. Going beyond the Human Development concept, our focus will be on enhancing the Happiness Index.

My government's vision is to make AP one among the top three performing States by 2022, the top performing state by 2029 and the best destination in the world by 2050," the Governor said.