Vadderas demand inclusion in ST list

Kurnool: Sizable number of people belonging to Vaddera community took out a massive rally here on Sunday demanding inclusions of their community in the list of the Scheduled Tribes. The rally culminated in a dharna before the Collectorate.

The activists, who staged dharna before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the Collectorate led by the honorary president of the State Vaddera Sangham, Rupani Lok Nath, said that the castes like Yerukala, Lambadi, Yanadi and Vaddera were in the same list and in 1970 the Vaddera community was deleted from the list. "It is unfortunate that Vaddera community was included in the Backward Classes 'A' list," Lok Nath said.

As a result, the community has become backward politically, financially and socially, he added. He demanded that the government should recognize the plight of the Vaddera community and include the same in the Scheduled Tribes list in the larger interest of their children. Lok Nath regretted that not a single MLA or MP was representing their community.

He appealed to the political parties to allot party tickets to the persons of their community in the forthcoming elections. He warned that the community would support the political party which would give the party ticket to their community leaders. Vaddera Sangham secretary Edukondalu, general secretary Bandaru babu and others were present.