SC Sub-Categorisation Law is a historic decision : State Minister Adluri

In a grand felicitation ceremony held at the Shilpakala Vedika on Friday, members of the Madiga Employees Coordination Committee lauded Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for ushering in what they described as a historic and long-awaited social justice reform- the implementation of Scheduled Caste sub-categorisation- in Telangana. Addressing the gathering , State Social Welfare and Tribal Welfare Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar stated that the landmark legislation, enacted in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment, would remain a defining moment in their community’s  social justice history.

He said that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had earned a permanent place in history by becoming the first leader in the country to bring the Scheduled Caste sub-categorisation into statutory effect.

“Despite numerous hurdles, political pressures and administrative challenges, the Chief Minister stood firmly by his word and ensured that the long-pending demand of the Madiga community was translated into law,” the minister said while drawing applause from the audience.

The felicitation programme was organised by the Madiga Employees Coordination Committee to express gratitude to the Chief Minister for implementing the SC classification law.

The minister further informed that the government had already initiated steps to operationalise the law. He said that a ministerial sub-committee headed by Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha had been constituted to oversee its implementation. “In addition, a dedicated office has been set up at Tourism Plaza in Hyderabad to ensure the smooth execution of the sub-categorisation framework,” he noted .

Laxman Kumar remarked that the Madiga community would remain indebted to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for generations for fulfilling a decades-old aspiration.

He  announced that a massive thanksgiving rally involving lakhs of Madigas would soon be organised to formally honour the Chief Minister for his decisive leadership in delivering social justice. During his address, the minister urged the Chief Minister to reconstruct the dilapidated Kachiguda hostel and rename it after national leader Babu Jagjivan Ram.

He raised concern over the deteriorating condition of the Ambedkar Bhavan located at Lower Tank Bund in Hyderabad. Recalling his recent visit to the site in his capacity as theminister, Laxman Kumar said that even the foundation plaques installed during the previous governments had fallen into disrepair.

He appealed to the Chief Minister to initiate the reconstruction of the Ambedkar Bhavan ahead of the birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar on April 14. The minister suggested that the facility be developed into a national-level centre equipped with study halls, accommodation facilities and training centres so that it can serve students and members of the public alike.

Highlighting the immediate benefits of the classification policy, Laxman Kumar stated that after the implementation of the law, as many as 772 Madiga candidates had secured positions as doctors and engineers.

In addition, the recruitment process under the new system has opened employment opportunities for thousands of candidates, including 16,000 posts under Group-II services and nearly 10,000 positions under Group-III, he said while attributing the credit entirely to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Speaking emotionally about his own journey, the minister said that he was born in a Harijanwada and had personally faced caste discrimination during his childhood.

“Despite those hardships, the Congress party gave me opportunities to serve the people as SC Corporation Chairman, District Parishad Chairman and later as a Government Whip,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, Laxman Kumar said that Revanth Reddy had further honoured him by inducting him into the state cabinet with cabinet rank and giving him the opportunity to sit beside him in the council of ministers.

The minister appreciated the participation of Madiga employees,  who attended the felicitation programme despite official duties under the Praja Palana programme by stating that many had taken permission from their respective district collectors to attend the event.